Key points
- Screening means testing for cancer or pre-cancer in someone who has no symptoms; specific tests are recommended for each age and sex [1, 2, 4].
- Women: a Pap test from age 21, an HPV test from age 30 and a mammogram every 2 years from 40 to 74 [4, 5, 1].
- Women and men: bowel cancer screening from 45 to 75, with a stool test or colonoscopy [2].
- Heavy smokers aged 50 to 80: a low-dose CT scan of the lungs every year [3]. Men aged 55 to 69: decide about a PSA test with your doctor [6].
- Whole-body scans and tumour marker panels have no proven benefit in people without symptoms and are not recommended as a check-up [9, 10].
- A family history, inherited gene changes, cirrhosis of the liver or hepatitis B may mean you need earlier or more frequent tests [11, 1, 7].
What is cancer screening and how is it done?
Screening means testing for cancer, or for changes that could later become cancer, before any symptoms appear. The aim is to find cancer early, when it is easier to treat, or even to treat pre-cancer before it becomes cancer. For example, cervical screening finds pre-cancerous changes that a simple treatment can stop from turning into cancer [5], and bowel screening finds advanced polyps as well as cancer [2].
Screening is for people who have no symptoms. If you have symptoms, do not wait for a screening appointment; see a doctor [12]. Every screening test has benefits and can also have harms, such as a false-positive result that leads to more tests and sometimes a biopsy [6]. That is why it is best to choose your screening plan with your doctor.
Which tests are in a cancer screening check-up?
| Test | Who it is for | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Pap test or HPV test (cervix) | Women aged 21 to 65; HPV test from age 30 [4, 5] | Pap test every 3 years; HPV test every 5 years (World Health Organization: every 5 to 10 years) [4, 5] |
| Mammogram (breast) | Women aged 40 to 74 [1] | Every 2 years [1] |
| Stool test for hidden blood or colonoscopy (bowel) | Women and men aged 45 to 75 [2] | Stool test every year or colonoscopy every 10 years; colonoscopy if the stool test is positive [2] |
| Low-dose CT scan of the chest (lung) | People aged 50 to 80 who have smoked at least 20 pack-years and still smoke or quit less than 15 years ago [3] | Every year [3] |
| PSA blood test (prostate) | Men aged 55 to 69, only after talking with a doctor about its benefits and harms [6] | Individual decision [6] |
| Liver ultrasound with an AFP blood test (liver) | People with cirrhosis of the liver and some people with chronic hepatitis B [7] | Every 6 months [7] |
| H. pylori test (stomach) | Adults in high-risk groups, such as regions where stomach cancer is common [8] | If positive, treatment and a repeat test to make sure the germ has been cleared [8] |
These recommendations are for people at average risk; if you have a family history or a particular condition, see the section "Who needs earlier or more frequent tests?"
To see which tests are recommended for your age and situation, use the cancer screening tool. Details of each test: Pap test, what age to start mammograms, what age to start colonoscopy, should I be screened for lung cancer?, what a high PSA means and H. pylori testing.
Cancer screening tests by age: women and men
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 21 to 29 | Pap test every 3 years [4] | — |
| 30 to 39 | HPV test every 5 years, or Pap test every 3 years [4, 5] | — |
| 40 to 44 | Mammogram every 2 years; HPV or Pap test [1, 4] | — |
| 45 to 49 | Mammogram; HPV or Pap test; bowel screening [1, 4, 2] | Bowel screening [2] |
| 50 to 54 | Mammogram; HPV or Pap test; bowel screening; low-dose lung CT for heavy smokers [1, 4, 2, 3] | Bowel screening; low-dose lung CT for heavy smokers [2, 3] |
| 55 to 65 | Mammogram; HPV or Pap test; bowel screening; lung CT for heavy smokers [1, 4, 2, 3] | Bowel screening; lung CT for heavy smokers; talk with your doctor about PSA [2, 3, 6] |
| 66 to 69 | Mammogram; bowel screening; lung CT for heavy smokers; cervical screening is no longer needed if past screening was adequate and normal [1, 2, 3, 4] | Bowel screening; lung CT for heavy smokers; talk about PSA [2, 3, 6] |
| 70 to 74 | Mammogram; bowel screening; lung CT for heavy smokers [1, 2, 3] | Bowel screening; lung CT for heavy smokers; PSA screening is not recommended [2, 3, 6] |
| 75 to 80 | Bowel screening up to 75, then an individual decision; lung CT for heavy smokers up to 80; continuing mammograms is an individual decision [2, 3, 1] | Bowel screening up to 75, then an individual decision; lung CT for heavy smokers up to 80 [2, 3] |
| 81 to 85 | Bowel screening only as an individual decision, especially if you have never been screened [2] | Bowel screening only as an individual decision, especially if you have never been screened [2] |
| Any age, in specific groups | Cirrhosis or some people with hepatitis B: liver ultrasound and AFP every 6 months; high-risk groups for stomach cancer: H. pylori test [7, 8] | Cirrhosis or some people with hepatitis B: liver ultrasound and AFP every 6 months; high-risk groups for stomach cancer: H. pylori test [7, 8] |
A "heavy smoker" means someone with at least 20 pack-years of smoking (for example, one pack a day for 20 years) who still smokes or quit less than 15 years ago [3]. "—" means there is no routine screening test for this group; tell your doctor about any new symptom.
Can a full check-up or a blood test detect cancer?
Many people think a "full check-up" with blood tests and a whole-body scan will show any cancer, but this is not the case:
- Tumour markers (such as CEA, CA-125 or CA 19-9): studies that looked at whether these tests can find cancer in people without symptoms have generally found that they do not work well for screening; sometimes they miss cancer, and sometimes they are raised in people who do not have cancer [10]. The PSA test for prostate cancer is done only after talking with a doctor [6]. See what is a tumour marker?
- Blood tests that look for several cancers at once: these are still being studied, and their benefits and harms are not yet clear [10]. See can a blood test detect cancer?
- Whole-body CT scans: the US Food and Drug Administration knows of no scientific evidence that whole-body scanning of people without symptoms does more good than harm, and medical societies have not recommended it. An abnormal result may not be serious, and a normal result may be wrong; the radiation from a CT scan may also very slightly increase the chance of cancer later in life [9]. See do CT scans cause cancer?
The best "cancer check-up" is the set of tests in the tables above that fits your age and sex, together with a talk with your doctor about your family history and habits such as smoking.
Who needs earlier or more frequent tests?
- Bowel cancer in the family: if your parent, sibling or child had bowel cancer or an advanced polyp before age 60, or two of them did at any age, colonoscopy every 5 years is recommended, starting at age 40 or 10 years before the age at which the youngest affected relative was diagnosed, whichever comes first [11]. If only one of them was diagnosed at 60 or older, you can start standard screening at age 40 [11].
- Inherited gene changes such as BRCA, high-dose radiotherapy to the chest at a young age, or a past breast cancer: the standard mammogram programme is not meant for you, and you need a separate plan set by your doctor [1]. See is cancer hereditary? and what age to start mammograms.
- Prostate cancer in the family: older age and a family history are among the most important risk factors for prostate cancer, and Black men are also at higher risk; talk with your doctor about when to start PSA testing [6].
- Women living with HIV: cervical screening from age 25, every 3 to 5 years [5].
- Cirrhosis of the liver or chronic hepatitis B: liver ultrasound with an AFP blood test every 6 months. Among people without cirrhosis, only some people with chronic hepatitis B need this monitoring [7]. See what a high AFP means.
- High-risk groups for stomach cancer: an H. pylori test with a breath test or stool test, and treatment if it is positive. Treating this germ lowers the risk of stomach cancer at all ages, with the greatest benefit before pre-cancerous changes develop in the stomach [8].
When can I stop screening?
- Mammograms after 75: there is not enough evidence to weigh their benefits and harms; decide with your doctor whether to continue, based on your overall health [1].
- Colonoscopy and stool tests: recommended up to age 75. Between 76 and 85 it is an individual decision that depends on your overall health, past screening and your wishes; people who have never been screened benefit most [2].
- Pap and HPV tests: not needed after 65 if past screening was adequate and normal and you are not at high risk. They are also not needed after removal of the womb and cervix for a non-cancerous condition, if you have never had a high-grade pre-cancerous lesion [4].
- PSA: not recommended for men aged 70 and over, because the possible benefits do not outweigh the harms [6].
- Lung CT scan: stops once 15 years have passed since you quit smoking, or if you develop an illness that greatly shortens life expectancy or makes lung surgery impossible [3].
When should I contact my doctor?
Screening is for people without symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms, do not wait for a screening appointment; see a doctor [12]:
- A lump or firmness in the breast or armpit, or nipple discharge or changes
- Blood in your stools or a change in bowel habits
- Blood in your urine, or difficulty or pain when passing urine
- A cough or hoarseness that does not go away
- Difficulty swallowing, or indigestion or tummy pain that does not go away
- A new mole, a change in a mole, or a sore that does not heal
- A lump or swelling in the neck, armpit, abdomen or groin
- Unexplained weight loss or gain, unexplained fever or night sweats, or severe tiredness that does not go away
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
If a symptom lasts a few weeks and does not get better, see your doctor; cancer often does not cause pain, so do not wait for pain. Most of the time these symptoms have causes other than cancer [12]. See what are the signs of cancer? If your stool test for hidden blood was positive, read my stool test was positive: what now?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a mammogram after 75?
For women aged 75 and over, there is not enough evidence to weigh the benefits and harms of mammograms [1]. If you are in good health and expect to live many more years, talk with your doctor about continuing.
When should I stop colonoscopy screening?
At what age should I have a PSA test?
For men aged 55 to 69, having a PSA test is an individual decision: the benefit is a small reduction in the chance of dying from prostate cancer in some men, and the harms are false-positive results, biopsies, finding and treating cancers that would never have caused harm, and treatment side effects such as urine leakage and erection problems. It is not recommended at 70 and over [6]. If prostate cancer runs in your family, talk with your doctor earlier [6].
What age is lung cancer screening?
A yearly low-dose CT scan is recommended for people aged 50 to 80 who have smoked at least 20 pack-years and still smoke or quit less than 15 years ago [3]. Use the pack-year calculator to see whether you are in this group.
Is a CBC blood test or a tumour marker test enough for a cancer check-up?
No. In screening studies, tumour markers in the blood have generally not worked well [10], and the tests with proven benefit are the ones in the tables above. See understanding your CBC results and can a blood test detect cancer?
If my screening test result is abnormal, does it mean I have cancer?
Do I still need Pap or HPV tests after the HPV vaccine?
Yes. Cervical pre-cancer usually causes no symptoms, and regular screening is important even for women who have been vaccinated [5]. See the HPV vaccine.
Related pages
- Cancer screening tool
- What is a Pap test and how often should you have one?
- At what age should I start mammograms?
- At what age is a screening colonoscopy needed?
- Can cancer be prevented?
- 5 simple steps to find cancer early
- Just diagnosed with cancer: what to do in the first weeks
- After cancer treatment ends
Screening recommendations in detail (for doctors)
Show detailsHide
- Breast (USPSTF 2024): biennial mammography at ages 40 to 74 (B); age 75 and older, and supplemental imaging (ultrasound or MRI) for dense breasts: insufficient evidence (I). Applies to people with a first-degree relative with breast cancer or dense breasts; does not apply to carriers of BRCA1/2 variants or high-risk syndromes, people with high-dose chest radiotherapy at a young age, or a history of breast cancer or a high-risk lesion on previous biopsy [1].
- Colorectal (USPSTF 2021): ages 45 to 49 (B), 50 to 75 (A), 76 to 85 selectively (C). Options: annual FIT or high-sensitivity gFOBT, sDNA-FIT every 1 to 3 years, CT colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years plus annual FIT, or colonoscopy every 10 years; any positive non-colonoscopy test needs follow-up colonoscopy. Serum and urine tests and capsule endoscopy are not part of the recommendation [2].
- Family history of colorectal cancer (USMSTF 2017): CRC or an advanced adenoma in one first-degree relative younger than 60 or in two first-degree relatives at any age: colonoscopy every 5 years from age 40 or 10 years before the age at diagnosis of the youngest affected relative, whichever is earlier; one first-degree relative diagnosed at 60 or older: average-risk options from age 40. Consider stopping in people up to date with prior negative screening at age 75 or with less than 10 years of life expectancy; without prior screening, consider up to age 85 depending on age and comorbidities [11].
- Lung (USPSTF 2021): annual LDCT at ages 50 to 80 with at least 20 pack-years who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years (B); stop once a person has not smoked for 15 years or develops a health problem that substantially limits life expectancy or the ability or willingness to have curative lung surgery [3]. Pack-year calculation: lung screening tool.
- Cervix (USPSTF 2018, update in progress): ages 21 to 29, cytology every 3 years; ages 30 to 65, cytology every 3 years, hrHPV alone every 5 years or cotesting every 5 years (A). Do not screen under 21, over 65 with adequate prior screening and no high risk, or after hysterectomy with removal of the cervix and no history of CIN2, CIN3 or cervical cancer (D) [4]. WHO: a high-performance test every 5 to 10 years from age 30; for women living with HIV, every 3 to 5 years from age 25; self-collected HPV samples are as reliable as clinician-collected samples [5].
- Prostate (USPSTF 2018, update in progress): ages 55 to 69: an individual decision after discussing the small potential benefit (a lower chance of death from prostate cancer in some men) and the harms (false positives and biopsy, overdiagnosis and overtreatment, incontinence and erectile dysfunction); do not screen men who do not express a preference for screening (C). Age 70 and older: not recommended (D). The most important risk factors are older age, African American race and family history [6].
- Liver (AGA 2026): the preferred surveillance strategy is ultrasound plus AFP every 6 months; benefit is established in cirrhosis of any aetiology and in selected patients with chronic hepatitis B, and surveillance is not advised in non-cirrhotic patients with other aetiologies because of the low annual incidence. Newer biomarkers such as GALAD lack sufficient evidence for routine use, and multicancer blood-based panels should not be used for HCC screening or surveillance [7].
- Stomach (Taipei Global Consensus II 2025): H. pylori eradication lowers gastric cancer risk in all age groups, with the greatest effect before premalignant lesions develop; screening should prioritise high-risk populations; the 13C-urea breath test or monoclonal stool antigen test is preferred, with validated serology as an alternative in low-prevalence settings followed by non-serological confirmation; empiric therapy, especially bismuth quadruple therapy, in regions with high antibiotic resistance; confirmatory testing of eradication is strongly recommended; endoscopy for infected people at high risk of gastric cancer or with alarm features [8].
- Whole-body scans and tumour markers: the FDA knows of no evidence that whole-body CT screening of asymptomatic people provides more benefit than harm, and professional societies have not endorsed it [9]. Circulating tumour markers have generally lacked sufficient sensitivity and specificity in screening studies [10].
Related cancer types
Related guides
References
12 referencesShow all references, 6 with a study cardClose the reference list
Numbers in the text, such as [1], refer to these sources. Sources with a “Study card” button are summarised in the site’s evidence library.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
This page is based on reputable scientific sources and was last updated on 28 October 2026. The content of this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a specialist physician. Consult your treating physician about any treatment decision.
Printed from the website; the full and up-to-date version: https://drdabiri.com/en/guides/cancer-screening-by-age/