From OHC

February 18, 2025

Cancer can’t always be prevented, but by maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding risky behavior, and avoiding smoking, you can decrease your risk of cancer.  Another vital step is visiting your healthcare provider regularly and following the screening guidelines for each cancer type in order to find cancer early, which leads to the best possible outcomes.  In fact, screenings can help lead to preventing cancer by catching early warning signs that can lead to making crucial decisions about your health.

The majority of people may not know what all the screenings are, so we’ve gathered a detailed guide here that explains what the procedure includes and how often you should be doing it based on your personalized risk.  Early detection saves lives.  *This list may not be exhaustive but includes the top screenings and most common cancer types with available screening procedures.

Breast Cancer

Procedure(s): Mammogram

Description: An X-ray of the breast that can detect tumors before they are large enough to be felt.

Starting age: Beginning at age 40 for women without a strong family history.

Schedule: Annually

Maintain regular visits with your gynecologic healthcare provider prior to starting your annual mammogram.  Your provider will perform a clinical breast exam to check for lumps and noticeable symptoms.  OHC also recommends performing monthly self-breast exams in order to be familiar with your breasts and help detect any changes early.

 Cervical Cancer

Procedure(s): Pap Test, HPV Test

Description: Pap test – A procedure that collects cells from the cervix to check for abnormalities.  HPV test – A test that detects the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer.

Starting age: Women ages 21-29 should have a Pap test every 3 years. Beginning at age 30, women have three options including a combined Pap/HPV test every 5 years, a Pap every 3 years, or HPV every 5 years.

Schedule: At least every 3 years.

Maintain regular visits with your gynecologic healthcare provider, based on the right schedule for your age.  If you at a higher risk of cancer, your healthcare provider will set a different schedule.  Practice safe sex and consider getting the HPV vaccine if you haven’t already and are eligible.

Colon Cancer

Procedure(s): Colonoscopy, Stool-Based Test

Description: A procedure that uses a flexible tube with a camera to examine the colon and rectum for polyps or other abnormalities.  Stool-based tests check for blood or DNA in stool samples, which can be a sign of colon cancer.

Starting age: Beginning at age 45 for men and women without a family history.

Schedule: Varies

If your first colonoscopy is clear and you do not have a strong family history of colon and related cancers, you may have longer periods in between regularly scheduled procedures.  However, if you notice any new gastrointestinal symptoms, be sure to follow up with your healthcare provider.

Lung Cancer

Procedure(s): Low-Dose CT Scan

Description: A type of X-ray that can detect small tumors in the lungs.

Starting age: As early at 50, depending on smoking history.

Schedule: Varies

The screening schedule for lung cancer is directly tied to how long and how much you smoked.  Based on pack-years, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider about what schedule is right for you.  This test is a very good option to start watching for possible lung cancer, the deadliest cancer in the US.

Skin Cancer

Procedure(s): Physical Exam

Description: A visual inspection of the skin by a healthcare professional to look for any suspicious moles or other changes.

Starting age: Continuous

Schedule: Annually

Skin cancer is mostly caused by sun exposure, so be sure you are keeping an eye on your skin, suspicious moles, and other markings.  Visit your healthcare provider annually, communicate any concerns, and wear sunscreen daily.

Prostate Cancer

Procedure(s): Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test

Description: A blood test that measures the level of PSA, a protein that can be elevated in men with prostate cancer.

Starting age: Beginning at age 50 for men without a strong family history.

Schedule: Varies based on family history

For men under 50 with no family history of prostate cancer, screenings are not recommended.  However, for men over 50 and/or a strong family history of cancer, a PSA test is recommended.  Be sure to discuss with your healthcare provider your risk and the best schedule for you.

Head and Neck Cancer

Procedure(s): Dental Cleaning

Description: A visual inspection of the mouth and throat by a healthcare professional to look for any abnormalities.

Starting age: Continuous

Schedule: Every 6 months.

Visiting the dentist regularly doesn’t just help your teeth.  Your dentist will notice different spots in your mouth and can preemptively recommend further inspection based on their analysis of your mouth.

These screenings are not a comprehensive list of all the tests that can be done to find cancer, but the most common types of cancer have these screening guidelines.  For more information on what you should be doing at your age to prevent cancer and reduce your risk, visit our age-specific guidelines.  Early cancer detection leads to better outcomes and longer lives.  OHC is committed to education and spreading awareness of screening recommendations in order to reduce the number of cancer deaths in our community every year.

To schedule an appointment with one of our cancer experts, visit http://ohcare.com/request-an-appointment/.