Cancer screenings by age

Four cancer screenings are recommended for average-risk adults: cervical, breast, colorectal and lung. A fifth step, BRCA risk assessment, is for women with a personal or family history. The prostate PSA test is a personal decision, and the USPSTF recommends against screening for several other cancers. All of them, on one page.

Recommended cancer screenings by age

Average-risk adults. Age ranges from the USPSTF.

Everyone in rangeIf a risk factor applies

Swipe sideways to see ages 18 to 85

Bars show the USPSTF grade A and B age ranges, not how often to test. Tap a bar for test options and the source. The tables below add the C, D and I statements.

Recommended: ages and how often

USPSTF grade A and B cancer screenings with ages and intervals
Screening	Who and ages	How often	Source
Cervical cancer	Women, 21 to 65	Every 3 years (Pap test) from 21; from 30, every 3 years (Pap) or every 5 years (HPV test or cotest)	USPSTF, 2018, grade A
Breast cancer	Women, 40 to 74	Every 2 years	USPSTF, 2024, grade B
Colorectal cancer	All adults, 45 to 75	Depends on the test: stool test every year, stool DNA-FIT every 1 to 3 years, CT colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, colonoscopy every 10 years	USPSTF, 2021, grade A
Lung cancer	All adults, 50 to 80 if you have a 20 pack-year history and smoke now or quit within 15 years	Every year	USPSTF, 2021, grade B
BRCA risk assessment	Women, any adult age if you or your family have had breast, ovarian, tubal or peritoneal cancer	Once, with genetic counseling if the risk tool is positive	USPSTF, 2019, grade B

Cervical screening starts with a Pap test every 3 years; from 30 you can switch to an HPV test or co-test every 5 years. (USPSTF, 2018) Colorectal screening is grade A from 50 to 75 and grade B from 45 to 49. (USPSTF, 2021) Other groups, such as the American Cancer Society, set some ages differently; see cancer screening guidelines compared.

Your decision, not recommended, or not enough evidence

USPSTF cancer screening statements graded C, D or I
Cancer	Who	What the USPSTF says	Source
Colorectal, 76 to 85	Adults 76 to 85	Offer selectively, based on health, prior screening and preferences (grade C)	USPSTF, 2021
Breast, 75 and older	Women 75 and older	Evidence insufficient (grade I)	USPSTF, 2024
Cervical, outside 21 to 65	Under 21; over 65 with adequate prior screening; after hysterectomy with the cervix removed	Recommended against (grade D)	USPSTF, 2018
Prostate (PSA)	Men 55 to 69	Your decision, after talking through benefits and harms (grade C)	USPSTF, 2018
Prostate (PSA)	Men 70 and older	Recommended against (grade D)	USPSTF, 2018
Skin (clinician skin exam)	Adolescents and adults	Evidence insufficient (grade I)	USPSTF, 2023
Ovarian	Women without symptoms and not known to have a high-risk inherited syndrome	Recommended against (grade D)	USPSTF, 2018
Pancreatic	Adults without symptoms	Recommended against (grade D)	USPSTF, 2019
Thyroid	Adults without symptoms	Recommended against (grade D)	USPSTF, 2017
Testicular	Adolescent and adult men	Recommended against (grade D)	USPSTF, 2011
Oral	Adults without symptoms	Evidence insufficient (grade I)	USPSTF, 2013
Bladder	Adults without symptoms	Evidence insufficient (grade I)	USPSTF, 2011

Grade C means the service is offered selectively; D means the USPSTF recommends against it; I means the evidence is insufficient to weigh benefits and harms. See USPSTF grades explained and screening tests you may not need.

All of this is for people without symptoms and at average risk. A strong family history or an inherited gene change can mean earlier or different tests: see family history and screening. Symptoms such as a lump, bleeding or a changing mole are not a screening matter; see a doctor. This page is educational only, not medical advice; talk to your doctor about your own plan, or build it with My screening plan.

Questions people ask

At what age should cancer screening start?

Under the USPSTF: cervical at 21, breast (mammogram) at 40, colorectal at 45, and lung at 50 if you have a 20 pack-year smoking history and smoke now or quit within 15 years. The prostate PSA test is a personal decision from 55 to 69. (USPSTF, 2018) (USPSTF, 2024) (USPSTF, 2021) (USPSTF, 2021) (USPSTF, 2018)

When can cancer screening stop?

Cervical after 65 with adequate prior screening, breast after 74 (evidence insufficient beyond), colorectal after 75 (selective to 85), lung at 80 or 15 years after quitting. See when to stop screening for details. (USPSTF, 2018) (USPSTF, 2024) (USPSTF, 2021) (USPSTF, 2021)

Why is there no screening for ovarian or pancreatic cancer?

For people without symptoms, the USPSTF recommends against both, concluding that the harms outweigh the benefits; for ovarian screening, false positives can lead to unnecessary surgery. Neither recommendation covers people at high inherited risk, such as a known hereditary cancer syndrome or, for pancreatic cancer, a family history of it. If that is you, talk to your doctor. (USPSTF, 2018) (USPSTF, 2019)

Is a full-body skin check recommended?

The USPSTF found the evidence insufficient to weigh benefits and harms of a clinician skin exam for people without symptoms (I statement). Show your doctor any new or changing spot. (USPSTF, 2023)