NEW Cancer Screening Recommendations.
To help diagnose breast cancer, the American Cancer Society suggests mammography starting at 45 years of age with annual screening until 54 years of age and then every other year after 54.
To prevent cervical cancer in females and oropharyngeal cancer in males, ACS suggests a two-dose vaccine of HPV vaccine beginning with children ages nine to 14 years of age. Patients who get the first HPV vaccine at age 15 (up to 26 years of age), should continue to follow the three-dose vaccine schedule.
Lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan of the lung should be performed in patients 55 through 74 years of age who are current or former smokers. Medicare covers lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scan of the lung for patients up to 77 years of age.
There is no recommended ovarian cancer screening.
For cervical cancer, the screening depends on the woman’s age. Women between 21 to 29 should have a pap every 3 years (as long as it’s normal). Women from 30 to 65 years of age get a Pap test and then that same specimen can also be tested for HPV. If both negative, this is done every 5 years. Women 66 or older who have three or more consecutive negative Pap tests or two or more consecutive negative HPV AND Pap tests within the past 10 years should stop cervical cancer screening. Women who have had a total hysterectomy for noncancerous reasons never need another pap.
I hope this helps.
Share this Post