Cancer prevention is top of mind for many of us, and one way that people can be proactive is to talk to their doctor about cancer screenings. These tests, which often involve imaging or blood work, can help detect cancer early, when it’s most treatable. While these appointments often take just a few minutes, their impact can be long-lasting: researchers believe that prevention and screenings for five types of cancer may have helped save the lives of 4.75 million people between 1975 and 2020.

Overall cancer rates have been falling in recent years, thanks in part to advances in screening, treatments and awareness. Among people younger than 50, cancer mortality has dropped 44% since 1990, with decreases in four of the five leading causes of cancer death: breast, lung, brain and leukemia. Colorectal cancer is the exception, with rates increasing according to the American Cancer Society.

April is Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, which serves as a reminder to talk to your healthcare provider about which cancer screenings might be right for you. Here’s an overview of some common ones they might recommend:

Breast cancer screening

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women in the U.S., aside from skin cancer, affecting about one out of every eight women, according to the American Cancer Society. When detected early, before the cancer has spread, the five-year survival rate is more than 99%.  

The American Cancer Society recommends the following when it comes to screening:

For women at average risk of breast cancer:

  • Ages 40 to 44: Option to begin annual mammograms
  • Ages 45 to 54: Annual mammograms
  • Ages 55 and older: Mammograms can switch to every other year, or continue annually
  • Continue screening as long as a woman is in good health and expected to live at least 10 more years

For women at higher risk of breast cancer:

Annual breast MRI and mammogram, typically starting at age 30. This includes women who:

  • Have a 20% to 25% (or higher) lifetime risk, based on family history
  • Have a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
  • Have a first-degree relative with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation and haven’t been tested
  • Had radiation therapy to the chest before age 30
  • Have certain genetic syndromes (such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome) or have first-degree relatives with these syndromes

Talk to your provider about your personal and family history to devise the best screening plan.  

Colorectal cancer screening

In the past, colorectal cancer was a disease associated with older adults. Today, however, it’s the leading cause of cancer death in younger adults, and one in five people diagnosed are younger than 55, according to the Cancer Research Institute.

Because of that increase, screening recommendations from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) recommend screening to start at age 45 for people of average risk, and continuing through age 75. Individuals with a history of colon or rectal cancer, or who have an inflammatory bowel disease, should talk to their provider about starting to screen at an earlier age.

The ACG recommends the following screening options:

  • Colonoscopy: Considered the gold standard, a doctor uses a camera to look for growths and remove polyps in your rectum and large intestine
  • Stool tests: At-home tests detect abnormalities in the stool; a follow-up colonoscopy might be needed if results are abnormal

Cervical cancer screening

Cervical cancer deaths have dropped by more than half in the last 50 years, thanks to prevention and screening, according to the American Cancer Society. More recently, cervical cancer rates have declined each year by 11% in 20 to 24-year-old women, which could be attributable in part to the HPV vaccine.

The American Cancer Society recommends screenings from age 25 to 65 for women at average risk:  

  • Preferred screening: A primary HPV test by your healthcare provider every five years.
  • Alternatives:
      • An HPV test used on a self-collected sample every three years
      • An HPV test combined with a Pap test (known as a “co-test”) every five years
      • A Pap test every three years (if HPV testing isn’t available)

Those with a higher risk of developing cervical cancer might need more frequent screening.

Lung cancer screening

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., but early detection could save lives. According to the American Lung Association, annual screening with low-dose CT scans may reduce cancer deaths by 20%.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual screenings for adults ages 50 to 80 who:

  • Have a 20-pack-year smoking history (i.e., smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years)
  • And who currently smoke, or quit smoking in the last 15 years

Prostate cancer screening

About one in eight men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. While screening may help find cancer early, not all cases require treatment. Because some prostate cancers can grow slowly, the Cancer Research Institute says it’s important to discuss the benefits and risks of screening with your healthcare provider.

Recommendations from the USPSTF state that “men aged 55 to 69 years make an individual decision about whether to be screened after a conversation with their clinician about the potential benefits and harms. For men 70 years and older, the potential benefits do not outweigh the expected harms, and these men should not be routinely screened for prostate cancer.” 

While no screening can prevent cancer entirely, it’s an important step to detecting problems early, so that you can start treatment as soon as possible. To learn which screenings are right for you, make an appointment and start the conversation with your doctor.