Screening

Many cancers can be found early, and some can be prevented. This section explains cancer screening, simple ways to lower your risk, and what life can look like during and after cancer treatment.

• Screening basics: What cancer screening is, how it differs from testing when you have symptoms, and what the possible benefits and harms are.
• Lung cancer screening: A yearly low-dose CT scan can find lung cancer early in some people who smoke now or smoked in the past.
• Breast cancer screening: Mammograms can find breast cancer early, often before a lump can be felt.
• Colorectal cancer screening: Screening for cancer of the colon and rectum starts at age 45, and there are several good test options.
• Cervical cancer screening: Pap tests and human papillomavirus (HPV) tests can find changes in the cervix before they turn into cancer.
• Prostate cancer screening: Prostate cancer screening is a personal choice that you should talk through with your doctor.
• Skin checks: Knowing your skin and watching for changes can help you find skin cancer early.
• Quitting tobacco: Quitting tobacco is one of the best things you can do for your health, at any age, and free help is available.
• The HPV vaccine: The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps prevent several types of cancer.
• Hepatitis B and C: Long-term hepatitis B and C infections can lead to liver cancer, but a vaccine, testing, and treatment can lower the risk.
• Sun safety: Protecting your skin from the sun and avoiding tanning beds lowers your risk of skin cancer.
• Alcohol and cancer: Drinking alcohol raises the risk of several cancers, and drinking less lowers that risk.
• Weight, activity and food: A healthy weight, regular movement, and a mostly plant-based diet can lower your risk of several cancers.
• Family history and inherited risk: Some cancer risk runs in families, and genetic counseling and testing can help you learn your risk.
• What is survivorship?: A cancer survivor is anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, from the day of diagnosis on, and survivorship has different seasons.
• Your care plan and follow-up: A survivorship care plan and regular follow-up visits help you stay healthy after treatment.
• Late and long-term effects: Some side effects of cancer treatment can last a long time or show up years later, depending on the treatment you had.
• Feelings and fear of recurrence: Worry that cancer will come back is common, and there are ways to cope and get support.
• Getting back to life: Returning to work, school, relationships, intimacy, and activity after cancer takes time, and help is available.