Cancer Screening Schedules

The City of Columbia is committed to providing public health services that prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, protect against environmental hazards, promote healthy behaviors, prevent injuries and illness, assure the quality and accessibility of health services, monitor the health of the population, provide social services and promote and protect civil rights.

Cancer Screening Schedules

Breast Cancer
Exam	Age	Recommendations
Breast self-exam (BSE)	Over 20	Optional. Women should be told about benefits and limitations of BSE. They should report any new symptoms to their health care professional.
Clinical breast exam (CBE)	20 – 39	Part of a periodic health exam, preferably every 3 years
Clinical breast exam (CBE)	Over 40	Part of a periodic health exam, preferably every year
Mammogram	Over 40	Yearly, continuing for as long as a woman is in good health

Colon Cancer- Follow 1 of these 5 schedules:
Exam	Age	Recommendations
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or Fecal immunochemical test1 (FIT)	Over 50	Yearly
Flexible sigmoidoscopy	Over 50	Every 5 years
FOBT or FIT AND Flexible sigmoidoscopy	Over 50	Yearly Every 5 years
Colonoscopy	Over 50	Every 10 years
Double-contrast barium enema (DCBE)	Over 50	Every 5 years

Cervix Cancer
Exam	Age	Recommendations
Pap test	Start 3 years after first vaginal intercourse but no later than 21	Yearly with conventional Pap test or every 2 years with liquid-based Pap test
Pap test	Over 30	After 3 normal results in a row, screening can be every 2 – 3 years. An alternative is a Pap test plus HPV DNA testing every 3 years.
Pap test	Over 70	After 3 normal Pap smears in a row within the past 10 years, women may choose to stop screening
Pelvic exam	Not specified	Discuss with health care provider

Prostate Cancer
Exam	Age	Recommendations
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test	Over 50 (average risk)	Should be offered yearly (along with information on potential risks & benefits) to men with at least a 10-year life expectancy
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test	Over 45 (high risk)	Yearly (along with information on potential risks & benefits)

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