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Tests and Exams To Find Cancers You can increase your chances of finding a cancer before it has spread by getting certain screening tests and exams regularly. Many cancers can be treated more easily when they are found early. The tests you get and how often you get them will depend on your age, health history, and risks, such as family history and lifestyle. This section gives you some guidelines about what tests you may need to find certain cancers. Colorectal Cancer Colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer as a cause of death from cancer. But if colorectal cancer is caught early, it can be treated. Older men and women are more likely to get colorectal cancer than those who are younger. Starting at age 50, you should be tested for colorectal cancer. Tell your doctor if you have had polyps or if you have family members who have had colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or cancer of the ovaries or uterus. If so, you may need to be tested more often and at an earlier age. There are a number of effective tests, used separately or in combination, for colorectal cancer. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Breast Cancer Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. Should You Take Medicines To Reduce Your Risk for Breast Cancer? If you are at high risk for breast cancer, talk with your doctor about whether you should take medicine to reduce your risk. While medicines can reduce some women's risk for breast cancer, they also may cause blood clots and cancer of the uterus. From age 40 on, your risk for breast cancer increases. If you have a sister or mother who has had breast cancer, your risk is even higher. A mammogram every 1-2 years beginning at age 40 can help find this disease early when it is easier to treat. Mammograms have a few risks. They may not find all breast cancers. Also, they may show that you have cancer when you really do not. These false-positive results could lead to unnecessary biopsies. Cervical Cancer All women who are or have been sexually active are at risk for cancer of the cervix unless their uterus has been completely removed. Most deaths from cancer of the cervix can be prevented if the cancer is found and treated early. A Pap test is used to find cervical cancer. Women need to have a Pap test at least every 3 years, and women at increased risk for cervical cancer may need the test more often. You are at increased risk for cervical cancer if: You have had a sexually transmitted disease. You have had more than one sex partner. You have had previous abnormal Pap tests. Your doctor may suggest stopping Pap tests if: You are older than 65, have had regular, normal Pap tests, and are not at increased risk for other reasons. You have had a hysterectomy. Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is most common in men older than 50. You also may be at increased risk for prostate cancer if: You are black. Your father or brother has had prostate cancer. Tests such as a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test or a digital rectal exam can help detect prostate cancer, but these tests also have risks. They sometimes have false positive results, which may lead to avoidable anxiety and unnecessary biopsies and treatment. It is not yet clear whether these tests save lives. Oral Cancer Oral cancer includes cancers of the lip, tongue, pharynx, and mouth. Most oral cancers occur in people older than 40 who use tobacco or alcohol. People who are in the sun a lot are at risk for cancer of the lip. You can help prevent oral cancer by not smoking or abusing alcohol. If you are outdoors a lot, use a sun block on your lips. If you chew or smoke tobacco or abuse alcohol, you may want your dentist to examine your mouth for signs of oral cancer during your regular dental checkup. You also may need to see your dentist more often.

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