Have You Seen The Latest Cancer Statistics?
- Colorectal cancer is now diagnosed among young adults almost twice as often as it was in the 1990s.
- One in eight men will get prostate cancer.
- One in eight women will get breast cancer.
- The rates of more than a dozen cancers are increasing in adults under age 50.
- More than 90% of new cancer cases are diagnosed in people 45 and older.
The Good News
In addition to understanding your risks for certain cancers through genetic testing and health risk assessments, one of the best things you can do is getting screened. Regular cancer screenings help detect cancer early and greatly increase the chances of successful treatment.
OSF HealthCare makes it easy to schedule these screenings so you can keep living life and doing the things you love – with the people you love.
Screening Recommendations
Cancer screening recommendations may vary based on your medical and family history. Please consult with your primary care physician for more information.
Cancer Screenings for Women
Select your age range to find out what cancers you should screen for.
Age 21-29
- Cervical: Get a Pap test and human papillomavirus (HPV) test every five years starting at age 25 regardless of sexual activity and history. The American Cancer Society recommends a Pap test every three years if not combined with an HPV test.
- Breast and colon: Talk to your primary care provider about your risk for breast cancer and colon cancer and when you should start regular screenings. Do a breast self-exam once a month.
- Skin: Conduct a thorough self-exam monthly of all skin, including under your nails and hair, and report any concerns to your provider. Look for new spots, bleeding sores that won’t heal, rough or scaly red patches, wart-like growths, new moles or moles that change size, shape, color or have irregular shape.
Age 30-39
- Cervical: Get a Pap test and human papillomavirus (HPV) test every five years regardless of sexual activity and history. The American Cancer Society recommends a Pap test every three years if not combined with an HPV test.
- Breast: Talk with your primary care provider about your risk for breast cancer and when you should start getting regular mammograms. Do a breast self-exam once a month.
- Skin: Conduct a thorough self-exam monthly of all skin, including under your nails and hair, and report any concerns to your provider. Look for new spots, bleeding sores that won’t heal, rough or scaly red patches, wart-like growths, new moles or moles that change size, shape, color or have irregular shape.
Age 40-49
- Cervical: Get a Pap test and HPV test every five years, no matter your sexual activity. If you're not getting the HPV test, get a Pap test every three years. Women with normal results from past tests and at average risk can stop screening at age 65.
- Breast: Get a mammogram once a year to check for breast cancer. Do a breast self-exam once a month.
- Skin: Examine your skin closely every month, including under your nails and hair. If you notice anything unusual – like new spots, sores that won’t heal, red patches, or strange moles – tell your provider right away. They can check any concerns.
- Colon and rectal: Beginning at age 45, get a colonoscopy every 10 years. Other colorectal cancer screening options include:
- Stool-based test every year
- Stool-based DNA test every three years
- CT colonography test every five years
Age 50 and older
- Cervical: Get a Pap test and HPV test every five years, no matter your sexual activity. If you're not getting the HPV test, get a Pap test every three years. Women with normal results from past tests and at average risk can stop screening at age 65.
- Breast: Get a mammogram once a year to check for breast cancer. Do a breast self-exam once a month.
- Skin: Examine your skin closely every month, including under your nails and hair. If you notice anything unusual – like new spots, sores that won’t heal, red patches, or strange moles – tell your provider right away. They can check any concerns.
- Colon and rectal: Get a colonoscopy every 10 years. If you’re at average risk for colorectal cancer, you can stop screening at age 75. Other colorectal cancer screening options include:
- Stool-based test every year
- Stool-based DNA test every three years
- CT colonography test every five years
- Lung: If you’re a current or former smoker in good health, you may qualify for a low-dose lung cancer CT screening. Talk to your provider to see if you qualify.