History of ACS Recommendations for the Early Detection of Cancer in People Without Symptoms
The following tables give the history of cancer detection tests that have been recommended by the American Cancer Society for people who are at average risk for cancer (unless otherwise specified) and do not have any specific symptoms. These recommendations have changed over time as new tests have become available and as more evidence for or against the value of some of these tests has emerged.
People who are at increased risk for certain cancers may need to follow a different testing schedule, such as starting at an earlier age or being tested more often. Those with symptoms that could be related to cancer should see their doctor right away.
Breast cancer
Dates |
Test |
Age |
Frequency |
Pre 1980 |
Breast self-exam (BSE) |
Start during high school years |
Monthly |
Clinical breast exam (CBE) |
20 and over |
"Periodically" |
|
Mammogram |
35 - 39 |
Only if personal history of breast cancer |
|
40 - 49 |
May have mammogram if they or their mother or sisters had breast cancer |
||
50 and over |
May have mammograms yearly |
||
1980 - 1982 |
Breast self-exam (BSE) |
Start during high school years |
Monthly |
Clinical breast exam (CBE) |
20 - 39 |
Every 3 years |
|
40 and over |
Yearly |
||
Mammogram |
35 - 39 |
Baseline mammogram |
|
40 - 49 |
Consult personal physician |
||
50 and over |
Yearly |
||
1983 - 1991 |
Breast self-exam (BSE) |
20 and over |
Monthly |
Clinical breast exam (CBE) |
20 - 39 |
Every 3 years |
|
40 and over |
Yearly |
||
Mammogram |
35 - 39 |
Baseline mammogram |
|
40 - 49 |
Every 1-2 years |
||
50 and over |
Yearly |
||
1992 - |
Breast self-exam (BSE) |
20 and over |
Monthly |
Clinical breast exam (CBE) |
20 - 39 |
Every 3 years |
|
40 and over |
Yearly |
||
Mammogram |
40 - 49 |
Every 1-2 years |
|
50 and over |
Yearly |
||
March 1997 - May 2003 |
Breast self-exam (BSE) |
20 and over |
Monthly |
Clinical breast exam (CBE) |
20 - 39 |
Every 3 years |
|
40 and over |
Yearly |
||
Mammogram |
40 and over |
Yearly |
|
May 2003 - October 2015*,** |
Breast self-exam (BSE) |
20 and over |
Optional. Women should be told about benefits and limitations of BSE. They should report any new symptoms to their health care professional. |
Clinical breast exam (CBE) |
20 - 39 |
Part of a periodic health exam, preferably every 3 years |
|
40 and over |
Part of a periodic health exam, preferably every year |
||
Mammogram |
40 and over |
Yearly, continuing for as long as a woman is in good health |
|
October 2015 - present**,*** |
Mammogram |
40 - 44 |
Women in this age group should have the choice to start annual screening with mammograms if they wish to do so. The risks of screening as well as the potential benefits should be considered. |
45 - 54 |
Yearly |
||
55 and over |
Every 2 years; women should also have the chance to continue yearly screening if they choose to. Screening mammograms should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years. |
*May 2003 - May 2007: Women at increased risk (family history, genetic tendency, past breast cancer) should talk with their doctors about the benefits and limitations of starting mammography screening earlier, having additional tests (breast ultrasound, MRI), or having more frequent exams.
**May 2007 - Present: Women at high risk based on certain factors should get an MRI and a mammogram every year. This includes women with about a 20% or greater risk using risk assessment tools based mainly on family history, women who had radiation therapy to the chest when they were between the ages of 10 and 30 years, and women who either have or who are at high risk for mutations in certain genes that greatly increase their breast cancer risk.
*** All women should be familiar with the known benefits, limitations, and potential harms associated with breast cancer screening.
Cervical cancer
Dates |
Test |
Age |
Frequency |
Pre 1980 |
Pap test |
Not specified |
As part of a regular check-up |
1980 - 1987 |
Pap test |
20 and over; under 20 if sexually active |
Yearly, but after 2 negative exams 1 year apart, at least every 3 years |
Pelvic exam |
20 – 39 |
Every 3 years |
|
40 and over |
Yearly |
||
1987 - 2002 |
Pap test |
18 & over or sexually active |
Yearly, but after 3 consecutive normal exams, less frequently at the discretion of the doctor |
Pelvic exam |
18 & over or sexually active |
Yearly |
|
2003 - 2012 |
Pap test |
Start 3 years after first vaginal intercourse but no later than 21 |
Yearly with conventional Pap test or every 2 years with liquid-based Pap test |
30 and over |
After 3 normal results in a row, screening can be every 2 to 3 years. An alternative is a Pap test plus HPV DNA testing every 3 years.* |
||
70 and over |
After 3 normal Pap tests in a row within the past 10 years, women may choose to stop screening** |
||
Pelvic exam |
Not specified |
Discuss with health care provider |
|
2012 - 20201 |
Pap test |
21 - 29 |
Every 3 years* |
Pap test plus HPV DNA test |
30 - 65 |
Every 5 years* An alternative is screening with a Pap test alone every 3 years* |
|
Over 65 |
A woman should stop screening unless she had a serious cervical pre-cancer or cancer in the last 20 years |
||
| 2020 - present2 | Primary HPV test- (preferred) | 25 - 65 | Every 5 years* Alternatives include: A Co-test (Pap test plus HPV test) every 5 years* OR A Pap test alone every 3 years* |
| Over 65 | Screening should stop if regular screening tests have been normal the past 10 years and there is no history of serious cervical pre-cancer or cancer in the last 25 years. |
*Doctors may suggest a woman be screened more often if she has certain risk factors, such as a history of DES exposure, HIV infection, or a weak immune system
**Women with a history of cervical cancer, DES (diethylstilbestrol) exposure, or who have a weak immune system should continue screening as long as they are in reasonably good health
1These guidelines are not meant to apply to women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer. These women should have follow-up testing as recommended by their healthcare team.
2These guidelines are not meant to apply to women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer or pre-cancer. These women should have follow-up testing as recommended by their healthcare team.
Colon and rectum (colorectal) cancer
Dates |
Test |
Age |
Frequency |
Pre 1980 |
Proctosigmoidoscopy |
40 and over |
As part of a regular check-up |
1980 - 1989 |
Digital rectal exam (DRE) |
40 and over |
Yearly |
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) |
50 and over |
Yearly |
|
Proctosigmoidoscopy |
50 and over |
After 2 normal exams 1 year apart, every 3 to 5 years |
|
1989 - 1997 |
Digital rectal exam (DRE) |
40 and over |
Yearly |
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) |
50 and over |
Yearly |
|
Sigmoidoscopy (preferably flexible) |
50 and over |
Every 3 to 5 years, based on advice of physician |
|
1997 - 2001 |
Follow 1 of these 3 schedules*: |
||
Fecal occult blood test AND Flexible sigmoidoscopy |
50 and over |
Yearly
Every 5 years |
|
Colonoscopy |
50 and over |
Every 10 years |
|
Double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) |
50 and over |
Every 5 to 10 years |
|
2001 - March 2008 |
Follow 1 of these 5 schedules*: |
||
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)** or Fecal immunochemical test1 (FIT)*** |
50 and over |
Yearly |
|
Flexible sigmoidoscopy*** |
50 and over |
Every 5 years |
|
FOBT** or FIT1 AND Flexible sigmoidoscopy*** |
50 and over |
Yearly
Every 5 years |
|
Colonoscopy |
50 and over |
Every 10 years |
|
Double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) |
50 and over |
Every 5 years |
|
March 2008 – May 2018 |
Follow one of these schedules2: |
||
Flexible sigmoidoscopy3 |
50 and over |
Every 5 years |
|
Colonoscopy |
50 and over |
Every 10 years |
|
Double-contrast barium enema (DCBE)3 |
50 and over |
Every 5 years |
|
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy)3 |
50 and over |
Every 5 years |
|
Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (FOBT)**,3 |
50 and over |
Yearly |
|
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)**,3 |
50 and over |
Yearly |
|
Stool DNA test3 |
50 and over |
Every 3 years4 |
|
June 2018 - present |
Get screened regularly between ages 45 and 75, as long as you are in good health. |
||
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)**,3 |
See above |
Yearly |
|
Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)**,3 |
See above |
Yearly |
|
Stool DNA test3 |
See above |
Every 3 years |
|
Colonoscopy |
See above |
Every 10 years |
|
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy)3 |
See above |
Every 5 years |
|
Flexible sigmoidoscopy3 |
See above |
Every 5 years |
|
*A digital rectal exam should be done at the same time as sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or DCBE
**For FOBT or FIT, highly-sensitive versions of the tests should be used with the take-home multiple sample method. A FOBT or FIT done during a digital rectal exam in the doctor's office is not adequate for screening
***Yearly FOBT or FIT plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years is preferred over either option alone.
1 The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) was adopted as part of the ACS guidelines in 2003.
2 The first 4 tests (flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, DCBE, and CT colonography) are designed to find both early cancer and polyps. The last 3 tests (FOBT, FIT, and Stool DNA test) will primarily find cancer and not polyps. The first 4 tests are preferred if they are available to you and you are willing to have one of these more invasive tests.
3 If test results are positive (abnormal), colonoscopy should be done.
4 The 3-year interval was specified in 2014. When the guidelines were published in 2008, the interval was not specified.
Endometrial cancer -- see also cervical cancer
Dates |
Test |
Age/Risk |
Frequency |
Pre 1980 |
Pap test |
Not specified |
As part of a regular check-up |
Pelvic exam |
At menopause |
Not specified |
|
Endometrial tissue sample |
At menopause (only in those at high risk*) |
Not specified |
|
1980 - 1987 |
Pap test |
20 and over; under 20 if sexually active |
Yearly, but after 2 negative exams 1 year apart, at least every 3 years |
Pelvic exam |
40 and over |
Yearly |
|
Endometrial tissue sample |
At menopause (only in those at high risk*) |
Not specified |
|
1987 - 1992 |
(Pap test recommendations were separated out as screening for cervical cancer - see above.) |
||
Pelvic exam |
40 and over |
Yearly |
|
Endometrial tissue sample |
At menopause (only in those at high risk*) |
Not specified |
|
1992 - 2001 |
Pelvic exam |
40 and over |
Yearly |
Endometrial tissue sample |
At menopause (only in those at high risk*) |
At the discretion of the physician |
|
2001 - present |
At menopause (average risk) |
Women should be informed about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer, and strongly encouraged to report any unexpected bleeding or spotting to their doctor |
|
At menopause (increased risk**) |
Women should be informed about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer, and strongly encouraged to report any unexpected bleeding or spotting to their doctor. They should also be informed about the potential benefits, risks, and limitations of early endometrial cancer detection. |
||
Endometrial biopsy |
35 and over (high risk***) |
Should be offered yearly. Women should also be informed about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer, and about the potential benefits, risks, and limitations of early endometrial cancer detection. |
|
*High risk was defined as having a history of infertility, obesity, failure of ovulation, abnormal uterine bleeding, or use of estrogen therapy or tamoxifen.
**Increased risk was defined as a history of estrogen therapy or tamoxifen, late menopause, having no children, infertility or failure to ovulate, obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
***High risk was defined as women with or at risk for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) due to a known or suspected gene mutation.
Lung cancer
Dates |
Test |
Age |
Frequency |
Pre 1980 |
Chest x-ray |
Not specified |
Supported use of chest x-ray for those in whom lung cancer is most often found (heavy smokers, asbestos workers, etc.) |
1980 - 2013 |
None |
Not specified |
No recommendation |
2013 - May 2018 |
Low-dose CT of the chest |
55 to 74 years (in certain individuals) |
Doctors should discuss the benefits, limitations, and potential harms of lung cancer screening with patients who are in fairly good health*, in the correct age range, have at least a 30 pack-year history of smoking**, and are still smoking or have quit within the last 15 years. If patients decide to go forward with screening, they should have low-dose CT of the chest yearly through age 74 as long as they remain in good health. |
June 2018 - October 2023 |
Low-dose CT of the chest |
55 to 74 years (in certain individuals) |
The ACS recommends annual screening in adults ages 55 to 74 years in fairly good health* who: currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years; have at least a 30-pack-year smoking history**; get counseling about quitting smoking (for current smokers); have discussed with their doctor the potential benefits, limits, and harms of screening; and have access to a center experienced in lung cancer screening and treatment. |
| November 2023 | Low-dose CT of the chest | 50 to 80 years (in certain individuals) | The ACS recommends yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan for people who are aged 50 to 80 years and 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.) Before deciding to be screened, people should discuss with their healthcare provider the purpose of screening, how it is done, and the benefits, limits, and possible harms of screening. People who still smoke should be counseled about quitting and offered resources to help them quit. |
**Pack-years is the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked. Someone who smoked a pack of cigarettes per day for 30 years has a 30 pack-year smoking history, as does someone who smoked 2 packs a day for 15 years. +NOTE: This represents a language clarification, not a change in the guidelines, as the previous language was often misinterpreted.
Prostate cancer
Dates |
Test |
Age/Risk |
Frequency |
1980 - 1992 |
No specific recommendation |
(see “Cancer-related check-up (men & women)” table) |
Part of the cancer-related check-up |
1992 - 1997 |
Digital rectal exam (DRE) |
40 and over |
Yearly |
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test |
50 and over |
Yearly |
|
1997 - 2000 |
Digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test |
50 and over (Earlier, i.e. 45, for men at high risk*) |
Should be offered yearly (along with information on potential risks & benefits) to men with at least a 10-year life expectancy |
2001 - 2008 |
Digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test |
50 and over (average risk) |
Should be offered yearly (along with information on potential risks & benefits) to men with at least a 10-year life expectancy |
45 and over (high risk**) |
Yearly (along with information on potential risks & benefits)*** |
||
2009 - 2010+ |
Health care professionals should discuss the potential benefits and limitations of prostate cancer early detection testing and offer the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE). If, after this discussion, a man asks his health care professional to make the decision for him, he should be tested (unless there is a specific reason not to test). |
50 and over (average risk) 45 and over (high risk**) |
Discussion and offer of testing should be done yearly for men with at least a 10-year life expectancy Discussion and offer of testing should be done yearly*** |
2010 - present |
Men should have a chance to make an informed decision with their health care provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer. The decision should be made after getting information about the uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening. Men should not be screened unless they have received this information. After the discussion about screening, those men who want to be screened should be tested with the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The digital rectal exam (DRE) may also be done as a part of screening. |
50 and over (average risk) |
Discussion at age 50 for men with at least a 10-year life expectancy and then periodically. If PSA is 2.5 ng/ml or greater, testing should be repeated yearly. Men with a PSA of less than 2.5 ng/ml may be tested every other year. |
45 and over (high risk**) |
Discussion at age 45 for men with at least a 10-year life expectancy and then periodically. If PSA is 2.5 ng/ml or greater, testing should be repeated yearly. Men with a PSA of less than 2.5 ng/ml may be tested every other year.**** |
*High risk defined as African American men or those with a strong family history - that is, those with 2 or more affected first-degree relatives (father, brothers).
**High risk defined as African American men or those with a strong family history of 1 or more first-degree relatives (father, brother, son) diagnosed at an early age (younger than 65).
***Men at even higher risk, due to several close relatives affected at an early age, should have this discussion with their health care professional at age 40. Depending on the results of this initial test, no further testing might be needed until age 45.
**** Men at even higher risk, due to several close relatives affected at an early age, should have this discussion with their health care professional at age 40. If PSA is 2.5 ng/ml or greater, testing should be repeated yearly. Men with a PSA of less than 2.5 ng/ml may be tested every other year.
+NOTE: This represents a language clarification, not a change in the guidelines, as the previous language was often misinterpreted.
Cancer-related check-up
Dates |
Test |
Age |
Frequency |
Pre 1980 |
Physical exam |
Not specified |
"Regularly" |
1980 - 2002 |
Physical exam* and health counseling |
20-39 |
Every 3 years |
40 and over |
Yearly |
||
2003 - 2015 |
Physical exam** and health counseling*** |
20 and over |
On the occasion of a periodic health exam |
*Should include examinations for cancers of the thyroid, testicles, mouth, ovaries, skin, prostate, and lymph nodes.
** Should include examinations for cancers of the thyroid, testicles, mouth, ovaries, skin, and lymph nodes.
***Should include counseling about tobacco, sun exposure, diet and nutrition, risk factors, sexual practices, and environmental and occupational exposures.
- Written by
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Revised: November 1, 2023
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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