Cancer Diagnosis and Screening

Recommended Screening Tests

CDC recommends screening for breast, colon, cervical and lung cancers.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer screening often detects cancer before symptoms of the disease are present. Although it cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help find breast cancer early. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast and is the best way to detect early cancer when it is easier to treat. Most health insurance plans are required to cover mammograms for women starting at age 40.

Colon Cancer

Colon screening tests can find polyps which can be removed before they become cancerous. These screening tests can also detect colorectal cancer in early stages when treatment is most effective. Screening is recommended after age 50 and includes stool tests, colonoscopy and CT Colonography (virtual colonoscopy). You may need to be screened earlier if you have a family history of cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.

Cervical Cancer

Pap smears can find cervical cancer early with a high chance of cure. This test can detect pre-cancers and looks for the HPV virus, and can be done in a doctor's office.  Women should begin pap tests at age 21.

Lung Cancer

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends for adults ages 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years to be screened by CT scans.