There are many ways to diagnose and screen for cancer. Some cancers can be diagnosed through imaging tests. Diagnosing other cancers may involve taking samples through biopsy.
Cancer screenings & tests
Other diagnostic tests
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy takes a small portion of the liquid and solid parts of the bone marrow. The marrow is looked at under a microscope to check the type and stage of cancer.
- Positron emissions tomography and computed tomography scan (PET-CT) is a combination of a PET scan and a CT scan. PET scans use a liquid that goes in the blood and often attaches to cancerous tissue. CT scans evaluate tissues and organs inside the body.
- Tumor marker tests evaluate the biomarkers in blood, urine or bodily tissue. Tumor markers can be found in cancerous cells and healthy cells as well.
More about cancer screening
Screening tests are used to find cancer before a person has any symptoms. Screening can often help find and treat pre-cancers and cancers early, before they have a chance to spread.
Colorectal cancer: For people at average risk for colorectal cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends starting regular screening at age 45. This can be done either with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in a person鈥檚 stool (a stool-based test), or with an exam that looks at the colon and rectum (a visual exam). Learn more about colorectal cancer screening.
Lung cancer: The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening for lung cancer with a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan for people ages 50 to 80 who:
- Smoke or used to smoke AND
- Have at least a 20 pack-year history of smoking
- A pack-year is equal to smoking 1 pack (or about 20 cigarettes) per day for a year. For example, a person could have a 20 pack-year history by smoking 1 pack a day for 20 years, or by smoking 2 packs a day for 10 years.
Breast cancer: Women ages 40 to 44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms (x-rays of the breast) if they wish to do so.
- Women age 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year
- Women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every 2 years, or can continue yearly screening
- Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer
Learn more about breast cancer screening.
Cervical cancer: Cervical cancer screening should start at age 25. People between the ages of 25 and 65 should get a primary human papillomavirus (HPV) test* done every 5 years. If a primary HPV test is not available, a co-test (an HPV test with a Pap test) every 5 years or a Pap test every 3 years are still good options. People over age 65 who have had regular cervical cancer testing in the past 10 years with normal results should not be tested for cervical cancer.
Endometrial cancer: The American Cancer Society recommends that at the time of menopause, all women should be told about the risks and symptoms of . Women should report any unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting to their doctors. Some women 鈥� because of their history 鈥� may need to consider having a yearly endometrial biopsy. Please talk with a health care provider about your history.
Prostate cancer: The American Cancer Society recommends that men make an informed decision with a health care provider about whether to be tested for prostate cancer. Starting at age 50, men should talk to a health care provider about the pros and cons of testing so they can decide if testing is the right choice for them.
If you are African American or have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, you should have this talk with a health care provider starting at age 45. If you decide to be tested, you should get a PSA blood test with or without a rectal exam. How often you鈥檙e tested will depend on your PSA level. Learn more about prostate cancer screening.
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