Cancer Screening Timeline

  • Birth

  • CBE

    A clinical breast exam should be conducted to feel for lumps in breast tissue every three years starting at the age of 20, and then every year starting at the age of 40. Breast self exam is also an option for women, to be done at any time starting in their 20s.
    Yearly mammograms, tests that analyze tissue density with x-rays, should also be conducted starting at the age of 40 and continued indefinitely.
  • Cervical Cancer Screening

    Females between the age 21 and 29 should have a Pap test, where cells are taken from the cervix and looked at under a microscope, every three years, and should have a Pap test with an HPV test, done the same way as a Pap test, every five years from the age 30 to 65 years, after which should cease if all of the previous tests have come back normal.
  • Endometrial Cancer

    At the beginning of menopause, all women should be informed of signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer, and should report and unusual bleeding or spotting.
  • Colorectal Cancer and Polyps

    Women should be tested for polyps and cancer in the colon starting at age 50. A colonoscopy to check for any abnormalities inside the colon should be performed every ten years, and a sigmoidoscopy should be performed every five. Yearly fecal immunochemical and fecal occult blood tests should also be done.
  • Lung Cancer Screening

    If at any increased risk of lung cancer, screening should begin between 55 and 74 years of age if no previous tests have been done.
  • Death

    Glorious death in battle where my heirs will avenge me.