Breast

• Women in their twenties and thirties should have a clinical breast exam at least once every one to three years.
• Women who are 40 and older should have a mammogram once a year and women who are at risk because of family history or past breast cancer should start mammograms earlier. Women may also wish to have more frequent exams or to have a breast ultrasound or MRI.
• Self breast examinations are a good tool for women in their twenties to start utilizing. Women who do this should contact their doctor if they feel any changes.

Cervical

• All women who are sexually active or are 21 years old should have a Pap test.
• At age 30, if a woman has had three normal Pap test results in a row, she may be tested once every two to three years.
• Women who are 70 or older who have had three or more normal Pap tests in a row may choose to stop having cervical cancer testing.
• Women who have had a total hysterectomy may choose to stop having cervical cancer testing. This should not be done if the surgery was performed as a treatment for cervical cancer or pre-cancer. Women who had a hysterectomy, but have not had their cervix removed should continue with precautions as though they never had a hysterectomy.

Colorectal

• Beginning at age 50, men and women who are at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should have one of the screenings listed below:
• Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) or Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) every year
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
• Double-contrast barium enema every five years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years

Endometrial

• Taking birth-control pills can reduce your risk of endometrial cancer.
• Women who have or are at high risk for colon cancer should be offered yearly testing with an endometrial biopsy beginning at age 35.

Lung

• The best way to prevent lung cancer is to not smoke and avoid those who do. If you are a smoker, you should quit now.

Ovarian

• The use of birth-control pills decreases the risk of developing ovarian cancer. This is especially true the longer you have been on the pill.
• A tubal ligation or a hysterectomy may reduce your risk of developing ovarian cancer.
• Having one or more children and breast-feeding may decrease your risk of ovarian cancer.
• Women with a high risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer, such as those with a very strong family history of the disease, may be screened with transvaginal sonography and blood tests.

Prostate

• Beginning at the age of 50, with at least a 10 year life expectancy, men should have a prostate-specific antigen blood test and/or a digital rectal examination yearly.
• Men at high risk should begin testing at age 45.

Skin

• As part of a routine check-up, your doctor should check your skin carefully.
• Once a month, examine your own body. Get to know the pattern of your moles, freckles, and marks. If you even notice any change or have any concerns, contact your doctor.
• To prevent skin cancer: limit direct sun exposure, limit tanning bed exposure, wear sunscreen, cover your skin and wear UV protecting sunglasses when outdoors.
• Lung cancer screening is not yet found to be beneficial, but new screenings are being tested to aid in early detection.