Top cancer screenings for adults by age and risk factors

October 8, 2025

Providence Cancer Team

[6 MIN READ]

One of the biggest reasons why cancer deaths have decreased recently is because more people are getting screened. Learn which screenings you need, and when.
If you don’t know which cancer screenings are right for your age, gender and risk factors, talk to your primary care provider.
Providence offers a convenient chart that helps you keep track of all the recommended cancer screening tests.

While it’s true that cancer death rates have dropped 34% over the last three decades, that doesn’t mean you should ignore them. In fact, the reason deaths have decreased is because cancer screenings have become much more common.

At Providence, we encourage you to take steps to protect yourself against cancer. You can start by taking a look at your age and history to determine your risk of cancer and which screening recommendations are appropriate for you right now. Many insurance plans pay fully for screenings, and even if you do have an out-of-pocket cost, it’s certainly less expensive to screen for a disease than to treat one.

In this article, we outline the screening guidelines for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate and skin cancer. Then, Gabriel Axelrud, M.D., radiation oncologist at Covenant Health’s Joe Arrington Cancer Research and Treatment Center in Lubbock, Texas, takes a look at some of the most common myths surrounding cancer screenings.

Cancer screenings by type and age group

Here is some basic information about which cancer screenings you might need:

Breast cancer

Who should get screened: Women ages 40 and older. Some organizations recommend starting breast cancer screening earlier for women at higher risk (family history, BRCA gene mutations, dense breast tissue).
What to expect: A mammogram (breast X-ray) every one to two years.
Why it matters: Mammograms detect breast cancer before it can be felt as a lump, which greatly improves survival rates.

Cervical cancer

Who should get screened: Women ages 25–65.
What to expect:
- Ages 25–29: Pap smear every three years.
- Ages 30–65: Pap + HPV test every five years (or Pap test alone every three years).
Why it matters: Cervical cancer screening can detect precancerous changes caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) before they progress to cancer.

Colorectal cancer

Who should get screened: Adults ages 45–75 (earlier if you have family history or genetic risk).
What to expect:
- Colonoscopy every 10 years.
- Stool-based tests (FIT or fecal occult blood test) every one to three years.
Why it matters: Colorectal cancer is preventable. Doctors can remove polyps before they become cancerous.

Lung cancer

Who should get screened: Adults ages 50–80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history (example: one pack/day for 20 years) who currently smoke or have quit in the last 15 years.

What to expect: Annual low-dose CT scan of the lungs.
Why it matters: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, but screening can detect it earlier when it’s more treatable.

Prostate cancer

Who should get screened: Men ages 50+ at average risk, or earlier (ages 40–45) for African American men or those with a strong family history.
What to expect: A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, sometimes combined with a digital rectal exam.
Why it matters: PSA testing can detect prostate cancer before symptoms appear. But it also has risks of overdiagnosis, so discuss pros and cons with your health care provider.

Skin cancer

Who should get screened: Adults of all ages, especially if you have fair skin, frequent sun exposure or a family history of melanoma.
What to expect: Monthly self-checks for new or changing moles. Dermatology exams every year if you’re high-risk.
Why it matters: Melanoma can spread quickly, but it’s highly curable when detected early.

Common myths about cancer screening

There are many reasons why people might talk themselves out of undergoing regular screening. Here are a few, and Dr. Axelrud’s responses.

I feel fine, which means I probably don’t need a screening.

Dr. Axelrud: Unfortunately, many cancers don’t have noticeable symptoms in the early stages. By the time a person feels unwell, the cancer may have already progressed. That’s the point of screenings — early detection when chances of successful treatment are much higher.

Screening tests always lead to cancer diagnoses, and I’m not ready for that.

Dr. Axelrud: In reality, most screenings confirm that you don’t have cancer. And for the ones that do lead to abnormal results, hopefully we have detected the cancer as early as possible so that treatment outcomes and survival rates are higher.

Cancer screenings are too uncomfortable or painful.

Dr. Axelrud: Some tests may be a bit unpleasant, but considerable advances in technology have made them much more tolerable than in the past. Depending on the type of screening, minimally invasive or noninvasive alternatives could be available. For most recommended screenings, the discomfort, if any, is usually temporary and is far outweighed by the potential benefits.

I live a healthy lifestyle already, so I don’t need to be screened for cancer.

Dr. Axelrud: Even though lifestyle can reduce the risk of multiple cancers, as shown in this Providence podcast, it does not eliminate it altogether. Family history, genetics and other factors can play a role.

If you stay on top of your screenings, you could potentially save your own life. Providence offers a convenient chart that helps you keep track of all the recommended cancer screenings, as well other important health screenings. You can also ask your doctor for an update on the cancer screening guidelines that apply to you.

Common questions about cancer screenings

Q: Why have cancer death rates dropped 34% over the last three decades?

A: Because cancer screenings have become more common, allowing earlier detection and treatment.

Q: What cancers have specific screening guidelines?

A: Breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate and skin cancer all have specific screening guidelines.

Q: Why are screenings important, even if you feel healthy?

A: Many cancers don’t cause symptoms in early stages, so screenings catch them before they progress.

Q: What are some common myths about cancer screenings?

A: Some myths include: You don’t need cancer screenings if you feel fine, screenings always mean a diagnosis, they’re too painful or a healthy lifestyle makes them unnecessary.

Q: How can screenings save costs and lives?

A: Screenings can save both your life and money because most insurance plans cover them, they’re less expensive than treatment and early detection greatly improves survival rates.

Next steps

Cancer screenings save lives. Even if you feel healthy, these simple tests can detect problems long before symptoms appear.

Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider to discuss which screenings are right for you. Together, you can create a personalized prevention plan that helps protect your future health.

Contributing caregiver

Gabriel Axelrud, M.D., radiation oncologist at Covenant Health’s Joe Arrington Cancer Research and Treatment Center in Lubbock, Texas

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