Here’s When You Should Get Screened for the Most Common Cancers

Most of us don’t want to think about cancer when we feel good and a new season of Ted Lasso comes out, but talking to a doctor and getting screened (“thinking about cancer”) can greatly reduce our risk. There are more than 200 types of cancer, ranging in severity, from cancers with a 97% survival rate, such as testicular cancer, to cancers that require “getting things done,” such as mesothelioma. While science is making great strides in curing this terrible set of diseases, early detection remains one of the most powerful tools we have. The following is a guide to screening for the most common cancers based on the American Cancer Society guidelines.

These are general screening guidelines, so these tests only detect a few common cancers. We are all human, so how often you should get screened for cancer also depends on your medical history and other risk factors – talk to your doctor about your concerns.

Recommended cancer screenings for people aged 21 to 29

Skin Cancer: You yourself are an early test for skin cancer. Regardless of your age, you should regularly, maybe once a month, check your skin for strange bumps, moles, and other troubles, and continue for the rest of your life. Report any concerns to your doctor or dermatologist. Here is a detailed guide on how to perform a skin cancer self-diagnosis . Some organizations, such as the Skin Cancer Foundation, recommend an annual checkup with a doctor, but there is no official recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force .

Colon cancer: If you are at an above-average risk of colon cancer due to a family history of the disease, a genetic disorder, or other factors, you may need to be screened for colon cancer at age 20. Talk to your doctor about which test is right for you. If you don’t have high risk factors, screening probably isn’t needed until you’re older.

breast cancer . If you have an above-average risk of developing breast cancer, talk to your doctor about whether you should get tested, but if not, you can skip the mammogram for now.

Cervical Cancer: If you have cervical cancer, you should be screened for cervical cancer starting at age 25. According to the American Cancer Society, you should get an initial HPV test every five years after that. If this is not available, you must have a Pap test every three years.

Recommended cancer screenings for people aged 30 to 39

Colon cancer: If you’re not in a high-risk group, you can still delay colon cancer screening after age 30, but talk to your doctor to be sure.

Breast Cancer : If you’re not in a high-risk group, you probably don’t need to be screened for breast cancer at age 30, but talk to your doctor.

Cervical cancer : Continue to be tested every three to five years, depending on the type of test.

Recommended cancer screenings for people aged 40 to 49

Colon Cancer: Most people in their 40s do start getting screened for cancer. The recommended age for first screening for colon cancer is 45 unless you are in a high-risk group. This is a change from earlier recommendations 50 years ago. As for how often and which test, it depends on your individual risk factors. For some people, a stool test is done once a decade. For others, it’s more frequent colonoscopies. Talk to your doctor and visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information.

breast cancer . According to the American Cancer Society, “Women between the ages of 40 and 44 should be able to start annual breast cancer screening with a mammogram if they choose to.” Once you turn 45, you should have a mammogram every year.

Cervical cancer: Continue to be tested every five or three years, depending on the type of test and your individual risk factors.

Recommended cancer screenings for people aged 50 to 64

Colon cancer. Continue to get regular colon cancer screenings as recommended by your doctor.

Lung cancer . Whether or not you should be screened for lung cancer depends on whether and how much you have smoked. If you smoke now or have recently quit, you should probably get tested. If you have a history of smoking 20 packs a year (i.e. you smoked a pack a day for 20 years), you should probably get tested. Talk to your doctor (and your insurance company – they don’t always cover this) about whether a lung cancer test is a good idea.

Breast Cancer: Generally, women with breasts should have a mammogram every year in the first half of their 50s. After you turn 55, you can cut it down to once every two years, depending on your individual risk factors.

Cervical Cancer : Continue to be tested every three to five years for women with cervical cancer.

Prostate cancer . If you have a prostate, talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of testing for prostate cancer so you can decide if you want to get tested for it.

Recommended cancer screenings for people aged 65 and over

Lung cancer . Whether you are recommended to get tested for lung cancer depends on your history of smoking.

Breast Cancer : Depending on your risk factors, you may need a mammogram every two years, but you can do it more often if you want.

Cervical cancer : good news! If you have been regularly tested for cervical cancer with normal results over the past 10 years, you can stop being tested for cervical cancer when you turn 65.

Prostate Cancer : If there is good cancer (and there isn’t), it will be prostate cancer. It generally grows slowly, is not life-threatening, and often causes no harm, so testing for it is a personal decision. According to the American Cancer Society, “men who can live at least another 10 years should talk to a doctor” about the pros and cons of prostate screening. It’s some heartless math, but cancer isn’t sentimental.