What is Cancer Screening?

Screening for cancer means looking for cancer before there are symptoms. Scientists have studied patterns of cancer in the population to learn which people are more likely to get certain types of cancer. They have also studied environments and lifestyles that may contribute to the development of cancer. This information helps doctors identify

• People who should be screened for certain types of cancer
• What types of screening tests these people should have
• How often these tests should be done

For some cancer, screening is important because it can help doctors discover cancer early and treat it successfully. Treatment is likely to be more effective when cancer is detected early. Not all screening tests are helpful for all people, and some have risks. For this reason, the National Cancer Institute is studying many screening tests to find out how useful they are.

For More Information:

• Team Up: Cancer Screening Saves Lives
• NCI Bulletin: Several Colorectal Cancer Screening Methods Are Equally Effective, Panel Says
• Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Through Research in Primary Care Settings
• Core questions to measure colorectal cancer screening behaviors
• Measures for ascertaining use of colorectal cancer screening in behavioral, health services, and epidemiologic research
• Cancer screening information from NCI's Cancer.gov
• Press releases
• Other screening information
• DES publications
• Trends in screening utilization
• Screening guidelines and testing for cancer
• New cancer screening technologies
• Supplement: Promoting Cancer Screening: Lessons Learned and Future Directions for Research and Practice - September 2004