Screening tests catch cancer early — sometimes even before it starts. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supports screening for breast, cervical, colorectal (colon), and lung cancers as recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Breast Cancer

For many women, mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Mammograms can find cancer before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms.

BreastCancer.org notes that doing a breast self-exam means checking your breasts, by sight and by touch, for any changes, like a new lump. While most medical organizations no longer recommend formal breast self-exams, experts agree that becoming familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel is essential.  

Cervical Cancer

The HPV test and the Pap test can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early.

The HPV test looks for the virus (human papillomavirus) that can cause cell changes on the cervix.

The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for pre-cancers, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.

Colorectal (colon) Cancer

Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. A colonoscopy often finds polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also can find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best. In May 2021, the USPSTF changed its recommendations for people to begin getting colon cancer screening at age 45 – instead of the previously recommended age of 50.

The colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for screening. A home test may be a good choice if you are not at increased risk or if you fear sedation. They are quick and effective, but can result in false-positive and false-negative results. Talk to your health-care provider about which form of screening is right for you.

Lung Cancer

The USPSTF recommends yearly lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for people who have a history of heavy smoking and smoke now or quit within the past 15 years, if they are between 50 and 80 years old.

Other types of cancer

Screening for ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, and thyroid cancers has not been shown to reduce deaths from those cancers and is not generally recommended. The USPSTF found too little evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening people without symptoms for bladder cancer, oral cancer, and skin cancer.

However, here is information on a few of these screenings:

If you are at high risk of ovarian cancer, ask your doctor if you should have a diagnostic test, like a rectovaginal pelvic exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, or a CA-125 blood test if you have any unexplained signs or symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that, while there are no widely accepted protocols for pancreatic cancer screening, most doctors do recommend screening patients who are known to be at a higher risk due to family history or the presence of associated conditions. Researchers are working on creating an effective screening blood test for early detection of tumor markers associated with pancreatic cancer. 

The American Cancer Society says that after discussing the pros and cons of screening with their doctors, some men might reasonably choose to be screened for prostate cancer. The discussion about screening should take place at age 50 for men who are at average risk, age 45 for men at high risk and age 40 for men at even higher risk.

The Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test can indicate if further testing should be done for prostate cancer. Some companies now offer PSA test kits that let you collect a blood sample at home (typically from a finger stick) and then send it to a lab for testing. This could be more convenient for some men, and it might even allow some men to be tested who otherwise might not be.

A Digital rectal exam (DRE) usually isn’t painful and only takes a short time. Prostate cancers can sometimes be felt during a rectal exam.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there is no standard or routine screening test used for early detection of testicular cancer. Most often, testicular cancer is first found by men themselves, either by chance or during self-exam. Sometimes the cancer is found by a doctor during a routine physical exam.

Thyroid cancer is most often diagnosed in men and women aged 55 to 64 years. According to the National Cancer Institute, being exposed to radiation increases the risk of thyroid cancer.

There is no standard or routine screening test used for early detection. Thyroid cancer that does not cause symptoms may be found during a routine physical exam when the doctor checks a person’s neck for lumps (nodules) or swelling in the neck, voice box, and lymph nodes, or anything else that seems unusual, or during a surgery or ultrasound that is done for another condition.

Get Vaccinated

HVP vaccine

When it comes to vaccines, think beyond your annual flu shot. Some can protect against cancer, too. Certain HPV vaccines prevent cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, and anus. The time to get vaccinated is between ages 9 and 26. The hepatitis B vaccine wards off the virus that causes liver cancer. It’s part of the childhood vaccination schedule.

HPV vaccination is recommended for preteens aged 11 to 12, but can be given starting at age 9.

HPV vaccine also is recommended for everyone through 26, if they are not vaccinated already.

Some adults age 27 through 45 years who are not already vaccinated may decide to get the HPV vaccine after speaking with their doctor about their risk. HPV vaccination in this age range provides less benefit, as people are more likely to have been exposed to HPV.

HPV vaccination prevents new HPV infections, but does not treat existing infections or diseases. This is why the HPV vaccine works best when given before any exposure to HPV.

The HPV vaccine does not substitute for routine cervical cancer screening tests (Pap and HPV tests), according to recommended screening guidelines.

Hepatitis B vaccine

Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It ranges in severity from a mild illness, lasting a few weeks (acute), to a serious long-term (chronic) illness that can lead to liver disease or liver cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent HBV infection. CDC recommends hepatitis B testing for all adults once in their lifetime. Some people should be tested more than once.