Cancer Screenings 101: What You Need at Every Age
Blues Perspectives
| 4 min read
An estimated 2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024. Preventive care, including wellness screenings, has become vital for early detection and life-saving treatment. To encourage these efforts, the American Cancer Society has established the following screening guidelines:
Ages 21 to 29
A Pap test should be done every three years for women in this age group. It’s primarily used as a screening tool for cervical cancer, which kills more than 4,000 women each year. People between the ages of 25 and 65 should get a primary HPV (human papillomavirus) test done every five years. If primary HPV testing is not available, screening may be done with either a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test every five years or a Pap test alone every three years.
People between 21 and 29 should determine their family history and associated risk of colon cancer and breast cancer. If there is no family history, no testing is needed at this time. If they are at increased risk, they should talk to a provider at this time.
Here are other screenings people in this age range need:
- Annual preventive visit
- Blood pressure screening
- Cholesterol screening
- Dental exams
- Eye exams
- Infectious disease screening
- Mental health screening
Ages 30 to 39
The average age of a cervical cancer diagnosis is 50, although the most frequent age of diagnosis is between 35 and 44. People between the ages of 25 and 65 should get a primary HPV (human papillomavirus) test done every five years. Minimally, female patients should still receive a Pap test every three years. If there is no family history of colon cancer or breast cancer, no testing is needed at this time.
Individuals in their 30s should also begin testing for pre-diabetes and diabetes. Of the approximate 38 million Americans with diabetes, one in five are not aware they have it. The number of people with diabetes is increasing which has led the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to recommend screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes beginning at age 35.
Ages 40 to 49
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, private health plans must offer colon cancer screenings. Starting at age 45, people at average risk should be regularly tested for the disease. The most common methods are a stool test or a visual exam, during which a doctor looks at both the colon and rectum.
Also, by age 45, African American men and individuals with a family history of prostate cancer (diagnosed before 65), should talk to their doctor about their risk. Men who have had a close family member diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65 should talk to their doctor about testing starting at age 40.
For those with average risk of breast cancer, a baseline screening mammogram is recommended, typically around age 40. Most continue with yearly mammograms until age 50, and then continue to screen every other year.
Ages 50 to 64
If you have a history of smoking cigarettes, lung cancer screenings become pertinent in your 50s. The USPSTF recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults aged 50 to 80 who:
- Have a 20 pack-year smoking history
- Currently smoke
- Or have quit within the past 15 years
Most healthy adults aged 50 and over should get Shingrix – a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration – to prevent shingles. Shingles is a viral infection caused by the chickenpox virus. It can cause a painful rash. It’s important to get two doses of Shingrix separated by 2 to 6 months.
Age 65 and older
By age 65, several wellness screenings are provided on a case-by-case basis. HPV and Pap tests may not be necessary, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cervical cancer screening after age 65 may be appropriate if you are at high risk, including if you have:
- A history of cervical lesions or cancer
- Mothers who took a hormone called diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant
- Have a weakened immune system
For men aged 55 to 69 years, the decision to undergo periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer should be an individual one, according to the USPSTF.
Colon cancer screenings are still recommended for individuals through age 75. But anyone older should talk to their doctor about whether continued tests are beneficial. Insurance providers typically cover vital cancer screenings.
The timeline for services and individual coverage can vary by plan. In certain cases, exceptions may be made for those who are at a higher risk for disease. Members should always check with their insurance carrier before scheduling a screening.
Related reading:
- Breast Cancer Awareness: Screenings Could Save a Life
- Black Men: What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer
- Colon Cancer: A New Concern for Young Adults
Photo credit: Getty Images
