Cancer Screening
Getting screened for certain types of cancer is an important part of your healthcare. At UK Markey Cancer Center — Kentucky’s National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center — we offer a comprehensive cancer screening program, with a special focus on prevention and education.
Our screening guidelines are informed by the recommendations from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), American Cancer Society (ACS), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI). Following these guidelines may help to detect cancer at earlier stages, when it is easiest to treat. In some cases, screening can even prevent cancer from developing.
What is cancer screening?
Cancer screening is a form of preventive healthcare. Just like getting your cholesterol checked regularly for early signs of heart disease, a cancer screening test looks for signs of actual tumors or possible problems. Some screenings are done with advanced imaging, while others require testing blood or tissue for evidence of cancer.
It is not possible to screen for every type of cancer. Fortunately, some of the most common — and deadly — types of cancer have reliable screenings. Your insurance is required to cover the cost of these preventive screenings.
Types of cancer we screen
Markey offers screening exams for the cancers below:
The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) recommend individuals at average risk begin breast screening at age 40 and continue regular screening as long as the individual is in good health. A standard breast screening is an X-ray of both breasts, also called a mammogram. ]
Clinical breast exams are recommended every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and annually (every year) for women 40 and older. Talk with your doctor about your family history and options for testing at an earlier age.
Women with a first-degree relative (biological parent, full sibling or biological child) with a history of breast cancer may need to start breast cancer screening at an earlier age. Talk with your doctor about your family history and options for testing at an earlier age.
If you are ready to schedule a mammogram at the UK Markey Cancer Center, call our Comprehensive Breast Center at 859-323-2222.
Breast cancer screening often starts with your primary care provider or OBGYN. Talk with your doctor about your needed cancer screenings, including breast cancer screening.
To establish care with a UK HealthCare primary care provider in Lexington or surrounding communities, follow the link below.
If you’d like to establish care with an OBGYN at UK HealthCare, call 859-323-0005 or follow the link below.
In most cases, cervical cancer is caused by an extremely common sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV). Screenings for cervical cancer, performed by your OB-GYN or primary care provider, are designed to detect HPV or cervical changes that can develop before cancer is present.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and US Preventative Services Task Force recommend that women ages 21 to 29 receive a Pap test every three years. Women ages 30-65 are recommended to choose from the combinations of options below when screening for cervical cancer:
- Pap test alone every 3 years
- HPV test alone every 5 years or;
- Pap test and HPV test every 5 years (co-test)
After age 65, screening is not recommended if you have no history of cervical changes and either three consecutive negative Pap test or two consecutive negative co-tests within the 10 years prior to stopping screening.
Screenings may continue to be recommended after age 65 if you meet the following criteria:
- You do not have three consecutive negative Pap tests OR two consecutive negative HPV tests (or co-tests) in last 10 years
- It has not been 20 years since treatment or resolution of CIN 2 or CIN 3 or cervical cancer.
- You are immunocompromised (symptomatic HIV infection, organ transplant recipient, immunosuppressive medications).
Cervical cancer screening starts with your primary care provider or OBGYN. Talk with your doctor about your needed cancer screenings, including cervical cancer screening.
To establish care with a UK HealthCare primary care provider in Lexington or surrounding communities, follow the link below.
If you’d like to establish care with an OBGYN at UK HealthCare, call 859-323-0005 or follow the link below.
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screenings starting at age 45 for people at average risk for colorectal cancer and continue until age 75.
Several screening tests are available. Healthcare providers will consider a variety of factors in discussing which strategy may be right for you. The tests require different frequencies of screening, location of screening (home or office), methods of screening (stool-based or direct visualization), pre-procedure preparation, anesthesia or sedation during the test, and follow-up procedures for abnormal findings.
Recommended screening strategies include the following tests and frequencies. These are not all recommended for all patients.
| Colon cancer screening tests | Frequency |
|---|---|
| High-Sensitivity Guaiac Fecal Occult Blood Test | Every year |
| Stool DNA-FIT | Every 1 – 3 years |
| Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) | Every 5 years |
| Flexible Sigmoidoscopy | Every 5 years |
| Flexible Sigmoidoscopy + annual Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) | Every 10 years with FIT test every year |
| Colonoscopy screening | Every 10 years |
Colorectal cancer screening starts with your primary care provider. Talk with your doctor about your needed cancer screenings, including colorectal screening.
To establish care with a UK HealthCare primary care provider in Lexington or surrounding communities, follow the link below.
The US Preventative Services Task Force recommends an annual lung screening for people who meet all three of the following criteria:
- Age 50-80 years
- Have a 20 “pack year” or more smoking history – this equates to an average of one pack per day for 20 years or two packs per day for 10 years. (A “pack year” is a way to quantify tobacco exposure.)
- Currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years
The screening for lung cancer consists of a low dose CT scan that can detect lung cancer (or other conditions) before you may notice symptoms.
For more information about lung cancer screening at the UK Markey Cancer Center, follow the link below or call 859-218-2881.
You need a referral from a healthcare provider to participate in the UK lung cancer screening program.
To establish care with a UK HealthCare primary care provider in Lexington or surrounding communities, follow the link below.
Ovarian cancer screening is recommended for women who meet the following criteria:
- Women over the age of 50
- Women over the age of 25 who have a family history of ovarian cancer
An ovarian cancer screening consists of a transvaginal ultrasound that provides a better view of the ovaries than an abdominal ultrasound. Through the Ovarian Cancer Screening Program, UK Markey Cancer Center offers free ovarian cancer screenings for women who fit these criteria.
You can call 1-800-76-OVARY (1-800-766-8279) to schedule your free screening at one of eight locations across Kentucky.
To establish care with a UK HealthCare primary care provider in Lexington or surrounding communities, follow the link below.
Between the ages of 55 and 69, all men should make a decision with their healthcare provider about whether or not to be screened for prostate cancer.
When discussing screening with their healthcare provider, men should consider:
- Family history of prostate cancer.
- Race/ethnicity, as African American men have a higher lifetime risk of prostate cancer death.
- Overall health and life expectancy
The screening for prostate cancer is a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. High levels of PSA — or levels that trend upward over time — could indicate the presence of prostate cancer. High levels of PSA could also indicate other conditions like an enlarged prostate, infection, or certain medications, so results must be interpreted by a healthcare provider.
Prostate cancer screenings are not recommended for men ages 70 and older.
Prostate cancer screening starts with your primary care provider. Talk with your doctor about your needed cancer screenings, including prostate cancer screening.
To establish care with a UK HealthCare primary care provider in Lexington or surrounding communities, follow the link below.
More questions? We have answers
The important thing to remember about cancer screening recommendations is that they are just that — recommendations. If you have a family history of cancer or certain other health conditions, your risk may be much higher for developing cancer. In these cases, you may need to start screening earlier or more frequently.
Your UK HealthCare provider can help you decide which screenings you need and when you need them. Talk to your doctor about your complete medical and family history to ensure the best screening schedule. Your provider can also work with you to prevent cancer in other ways, like by quitting smoking or starting a new fitness plan.
