Screening is the process of looking for cancer in people who have no symptoms of the disease. Regular screening for some types of cancer can detect changes in cells before they become cancerous. Screening is currently available for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer.
DoH recommendation for cancer screening is described in the table below
|
Cancer type
|
Primary population group
|
Screening test & frequency
|
|
Colon & rectum cancer
|
Men & Women
Age: 40-75 years
|
Colonoscopy, every 10 years
Or
Stool test, Annually
|
|
Breast cancer
|
Women
Age: 40 years and above
|
Mammogram
Every 2 years
|
|
Cervical cancer
|
Women
Age: 25 -29 years
|
Pap Test, Every 3 years
|
|
Age: 30 -65 years
|
Pap Test and HPV as co-test, every 5 years
|
|
Lung Cancer
|
Men & Women
Age: 55-75 years
High risk with:
- History of 30 pack/year smoking
- Currently smoke or have quit
- Within the past 15 years
- Healthy
|
Low dose CT scan, Annually
|