From the Guidelines
Average-risk individuals should follow the American Cancer Society's guidelines for cancer screening, which include regular screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers, as well as informed decision-making for prostate cancer screening. The current recommendations for cancer screening in average-risk individuals are based on age and gender, with specific tests and procedures recommended for each type of cancer [ 1 ].
Key Recommendations:
- For breast cancer, women should undergo regular screening mammography starting at age 45, with annual screening for women aged 45-54 and biennial screening for women aged 55 and older [ 1 ].
- For cervical cancer, screening should begin at age 21, with Pap tests every 3 years until age 29, and then Pap tests with HPV co-testing every 5 years from ages 30-65 [ 1 ].
- For colorectal cancer, adults aged 45 and older should undergo regular screening with either a high-sensitivity stool-based test or a structural examination, such as colonoscopy every 10 years [ 1 ].
- For lung cancer, annual low-dose CT scans are recommended for adults aged 55-74 with a 30 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years [ 1 ].
- For prostate cancer, men aged 50 and older should have an opportunity to make an informed decision with their healthcare provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer [ 1 ]. These recommendations are based on the latest evidence and are intended to improve survival rates and treatment outcomes by detecting cancers at earlier, more treatable stages. Some key points to consider when implementing these recommendations include:
- The importance of individualized decision-making for prostate cancer screening, taking into account a man's overall health and life expectancy [ 1 ].
- The need for regular screening and follow-up for individuals with a history of cancer or those with risk factors for certain types of cancer [ 1 ].
- The importance of discussing the potential benefits, limitations, and harms associated with cancer screening with patients, and ensuring that they are informed and empowered to make decisions about their care [ 1 ].
From the Research
Current Recommendations for Cancer Screening
The current recommendations for cancer screening in average-risk individuals are as follows:
- Lung cancer screening: annual low-dose computed tomography among eligible adults aged 50 to 80 years 2
- Colorectal cancer screening: colonoscopy every 10 years among adults aged 45 to 75 years 2, 3, 4
- Breast cancer screening: biennial mammography among female adults aged 40 to 74 years 2, 5
- Cervical cancer screening: triennial cervical cytology screening among female adults aged 21 to 29 years, followed by human papillomavirus testing every 5 years from ages 30 to 65 years 2, 5
Screening Guidelines for Average-Risk and High-Risk Individuals
For average-risk individuals, most guidelines recommend screening between 45 and 75 years for colorectal cancer 3 For high-risk individuals with a positive family history of colorectal cancer or advanced colorectal polyp, screening should begin at age 40 3 Several screening modalities are suggested, including colonoscopy, FIT, and CTC, with varying screening intervals 3, 4
Importance of Adherence to Screening Guidelines
Adherence to screening guidelines is crucial for reducing cancer incidence and mortality 2, 4 A 10-percentage point increase in screening use at the recommended age was estimated to prevent significant numbers of cancer deaths 2 However, increased uptake of screening also generates harms, such as false-positive results and complications 2
Ongoing Research and Evaluation
Ongoing research aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of cancer screening questions from national health surveys 6 The development of cost-effective, highly accurate, noninvasive modalities associated with improved overall adherence to the screening process is a desirable goal 4