Cancer Screening Tests

Screening means checking your body for cancer before you have symptoms. Getting screening tests regularly may find breast, cervical, and colorectal (colon) cancers early, when treatment is likely to work best.

Screening for Breast, Gynecologic, and Colorectal (Colon) Cancers

CDC supports screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal (colon) cancers as recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Breast Cancer
Currently, the best way to find breast cancer is with a mammogram. Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat. For more information, visit Breast Cancer Screening.

Cervical Cancer
The Pap test can find abnormal cells in the cervix which may turn into cancer. Pap tests can also find cervical cancer early, when the chance of being cured is very high. For more information, visit Cervical Cancer Screening.

Free or low-cost mammograms and Pap tests are available. To find out if you qualify, call your local program.

Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can find precancerous polyps, so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best. For more information, visit Colorectal Cancer Screening.

The Colorectal Cancer Screening Demonstration Program offers free or low-cost screening at five sites.

Screening for Lung, Ovarian, Prostate, and Skin Cancers

Screening for lung, ovarian, prostate, and skin cancers has not been shown to reduce deaths from those cancers.

Lung Cancer
Scientists have studied several types of screening tests for lung cancer. A review of these studies by experts shows that more information is needed. It is not known if these tests can help prevent deaths from lung cancer. For more information, visit Lung Cancer Screening.

Ovarian Cancer
There is no evidence that any screening test reduces deaths from ovarian cancer. For more information, visit Basic Information about Ovarian Cancer.

Prostate Cancer
Because there is not enough evidence to decide if the potential benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the potential risks, not all medical experts agree that screening for prostate cancer will save lives. For more information, visit Prostate Cancer Screening.

Skin Cancer
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has concluded that there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against routine screening (total-body examination by a clinician) to detect skin cancers early. For more information, visit Basic Information about Skin Cancer.