Cancer screening saves lives: Here are some recommendations

Screening offers the best chance to find cancer and treat it successfully. Screening can also prevent many cancers by prompting treatment for abnormal cell changes or pre-cancers before they have a chance to turn into a cancer. And when detected early, cancer is, as you know, more easily treated.

The following provides an overview of American Cancer Society-recommended screenings for common cancers.

When is cervical cancer screenings recommended?

• All women should begin cervical cancer screening at age 21. Women ages 21 to 29 should have a Pap test every three years.
• Women ages 30 to 65 should be screened with a Pap test combined with an HPV test every five years.

When is a mammogram recommended?
According to new recommendations from the American Cancer Society:

• Women ages 40 to 44 should be given the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they want to.
• Women ages 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
• Women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every two years or continue yearly screening if desired.
• Regular screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer.

Note: Based on the patient’s family history and other clinical factors, different age ranges may be necessary.

When is prostate screening recommended?

• Men at average risk for prostate cancer should begin screening at age 50.
• Men at high risk for prostate cancer should begin at 45. High-risk men include:
• African-Americans
• Men who had a father, brother, son or other first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age, which is younger than 65.
• Men with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age should start screenings at 40.

For more information on cancer screening, visit the American Cancer Society website.**

**Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn't own or control this website.