M. D. Anderson Cancer Center recommends the following guidelines for cancer screening:

Breast cancer:

• Begin annual mammograms and clinical breast exams at age 40.
• Clinical breast exam every one to three years from age 20 to 39.
• Try to schedule clinical breast exam at the time of regularly scheduled mammogram.
• For women at increased risk of breast cancer, screening may begin earlier and/or may be required more frequently.

Colorectal cancer:

Beginning at age 50, men and women should follow one of the examination schedules below:

• A colonoscopy every 10 years (preferred by M. D. Anderson).
• A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year.
• A flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSIG) every five years.
• Annual FOBT and FSIG every five years. This combination is preferred over either annual FOBT or FSIG every five years, alone.
• A double-contrast barium enema every five years.

People at moderate or high risk for colorectal cancer (e.g., a strong family history) should talk with their doctor about the need for a different testing schedule.

Prostate cancer:

• Men should be counseled about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening.
• Annual digital rectal exam beginning at age 50.
• Annual prostate-specific antigen blood test beginning at age 50.
• Begin screening at age 45 for men at increased risk (African-American men, men with a family history of prostate cancer).
• Screening is not recommended for men with a life expectancy of less than 10 years.

Cervical cancer:

• Annual Pap test with pelvic exam beginning at age 18, or when sexual activity begins.
• Depending on risk factors, after three or more consecutive exams with normal findings, a physician and patient may choose to do them less frequently.
• Some healthy women with normal Pap tests who have had a hysterectomy for benign disease may be screened less frequently than annually.

Endometrial cancer:

• Screening is not recommended for most women.
• For women with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, annual endometrial biopsy is recommended beginning at age 35.

Ovarian cancer:

• Benefits of screening for women at average risk have not yet been proven, and screening is therefore not recommended.
• For women with a hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome, annual or semi-annual pelvic exam, CA 125 blood test, and transvaginal ultrasound may be considered.

Skin cancer:

• Monthly self-exam beginning at age 18.