Checkup Checklist
A cancer related checkup is recommended every 3 years for people aged 20-40 and every year for people 40 years of age and older. This exam should include health counseling and depending on a person's age might include examinations for cancers of the thyroid, oral cavity, skin, lymph nodes, testes, prostate, and ovaries as well as for some non-malignant diseases. Special tests for certain cancer sites are recommended as outlined below.
Breast Cancer ACS Checkup Guidelines
- Breast self-exam monthly
- Breast clinical physical examination for women aged 20-40, every 3 years; over 40, every year.
- Mammography for women aged 40-50, every 1-2 years, for women aged 50 and older, every year, for women with a family history of breast cancer screening could start earlier if your doctor recommends.
Colorectal Cancer ACS Checkup Guidelines
- Beginning at age 50, both men and women should follow this testing schedule:
- Yearly fecal occult blood test plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every 3-5 years, or
- Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
- Double contrast barium enema every 5-10 years.
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People should begin colorectal cancer screening earlier and/or undergo screening more often if they have any of the following colorectal cancer risk factors:
- A personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
- A strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps (cancer or polyps in a
- First degree relative younger than 60 or in two first degree relatives of any age)
- A personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease
- Families with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes (familial adenomatous
- Polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer).
Cervical Cancer ACS Checkup Guidelines
- Pap test and pelvic exam for women who are or have been sexually active or have reached age 18, every year; after 3 or more consecutive satisfactory normal annual exams, the Pap test may be performed less frequently at the discretion of the physician.
Endometrial Cancer ACS Checkup Guidelines
- Sampling of asymptomatic women at high risk of developing endometrial cancer should begin at menopause and may be indicated at various intervals thereafter, depending on the degree of risk and other factors determined by the physician. Factors that contribute to increased endometrial cancer risk include history of infertility, obesity, previous abnormal uterine bleeding, estrogen therapy unopposed by progestin intake, or tamoxifen therapy.
Oral Cancer ACSCheckup Guidelines
- Oral exam for men and women every year.
Prostate Cancer ACS Checkup Guidelines
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Guideline Statement:
- Both Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) and Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) should be offfered annually beginning at age 50 years, to men who have at least a 10-year life expectancy, and to younger men who are at high risk. Information should be provided to patients regarding potential risks and benefits of intervention.
- Men who choose to undergo screening should begin at age 50 years. However, men in high risk groups, such as those with a strong familial predisposition (e.g., two or more affected first degree relatives) or African Americans may begin at a younger age (e.g. 45 years). More data on the precise age to start prostate cancer screening are needed for men at high risk.
- Screening for prostate cancer in asymptomatic men can detect tumors at a more favorable stage (anatomic extent of disease). There has been a reduction in mortality from prostate cancer, but it has not been established that this is a direct result of screening.
- An abnormal Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test result has been defined as a value of above 4.0 ng/ml. Some elevations in PSA may be due to benign conditions of the prostate.
- The Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) of the prostate should be performed by health care workers skilled in recognizing subtle prostate abnormalities, including those of symmetry and consistency, as well as the more classic findings of marked induration or nodules. DRE is less effective in detecting prostate carcinoma compared with PSA.
Skin Cancer ACS Checkup Guidelines
- Skin exam for men and women over 20, every 3 years; for men and women over 40, every year.
REFERENCES
American Cancer Society. Prostate Cancer Detection Guidelines, June, 1997.
American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Detection Guidelines, May, 1997.
Summary of American Cancer Society Recommendation For the Early Detection of Cancer in Asymptomatic People. Revised November 1992.
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