The who, when, and why of screenings for cancer prevention

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 2 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2024. A cancer prevention strategy starts with regular screenings.

Put simply, cancer screening tests save lives. Keep reading to learn about their role in cancer prevention and treatment.

The role of screenings in cancer prevention

Cancer screenings check for abnormal cells in people not experiencing symptoms of that disease. That’s why you’ll often hear them referenced as a “cancer prevention” method.

Every cancer screening works in a slightly different way. Cervical cancer screening, for example, can find precancerous changes in the cervix, allowing those cells to be removed before developing into cancer. That’s also true of a colonoscopy, which is used to screen for rectal or colon cancer.

Other tests, such as skin cancer screenings or breast cancer screenings, can be used to detect cancer before it spreads. Finding cancer early often makes the disease more easily treatable and improves outcomes.

The screenings you need—and when you need them

Cancer screenings are recommended based on sex, age, and risk factors. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) currently recommends routine screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers.

A medical provider can make personalized recommendations for what screenings you need to protect against cancer, but there are some general guidelines for screening those at average risk:

• Breast cancer. The USPSTF recommends that women have their first mammogram at age 40 and continue having mammograms at least every two years through age 74. Your provider may recommend having annual mammograms or also having other screenings along with mammograms if you have dense breasts or other risk factors.
• Cervical cancer. The guidelines for cervical cancer screening can be a bit confusing. The USPSTF recommends that women begin having Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer at age 21, continuing every three years through age 29. From age 30 to at least 65, women should have cotesting using both an HPV test and a Pap test every five years. If administered separately, have a Pap test every three years and an HPV test every five years.
• Colorectal cancer. The USPSTF recommends that colorectal cancer screening begin at age 45. Multiple screening methods exist for colorectal cancer. How often you receive testing depends on the type of screening. Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for testing since it’s the only test where precancerous polyps can be detected and removed during the screening, which can reduce the risk of developing cancer.
• Lung cancer. The USPSTF recommends screening for lung cancer every year for those who are between the ages of 50 and 80, who smoke currently or have quit in the last 15 years, and who have a 20-pack-year smoking history. A “pack year” is smoking one pack a day for a year, so a 20-pack-year history could be 10 years of smoking two packs a day or 20 years of smoking one pack a day.

Men should also talk with a medical provider about prostate cancer screening. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test looks for high levels of PSA in the blood to detect prostate cancer. While routine screening isn’t recommended, your provider may recommend screening if you have risk factors for the disease, such as a family history of prostate cancer.

Skin cancer screening can also be a helpful tool, particularly if you’re at a high risk. This screening consists of a skin check, where a medical provider closely examines your entire body, looking for skin abnormalities.

Screening isn’t something you can do once and forget about. Make sure you’re keeping up with regular cancer screenings since cancer can develop and spread quickly in some cases.

At LCMC Health, we offer comprehensive cancer care services, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. We’re committed to providing our community with the latest cancer detection and treatment tools, such as the SoftVue screening at West Jefferson Medical Center.