Set Your Screen
SET YOUR SCREEN
On the basketball court, a good screen helps create an opportunity to score.
Off the court, cancer screening can help create a better chance for successful treatment by finding cancer early, often before symptoms appear.
For many families, screening has made the difference between limited options and more choices, more time, and more hope.
For Lee Anne Pope, cancer screening isn't just a healthcare recommendation. It's personal. Her family’s cancer journey includes both loss and life-saving intervention. Lee Anne was profoundly impacted by the loss of her father at age 52 to prostate cancer. His cancer was discovered too late for effective treatment, and her family lost him too soon.
By contrast, her mother’s cancer was detected early through routine screening, not once but twice, giving her more treatment options, more time, and more hope.
Lee Anne has become a passionate advocate for cancer awareness and prevention, encouraging others to talk with their healthcare providers and stay up to date on recommended screenings. While cancer cannot always be prevented, screening can help people take an important step toward protecting their health and future.
Watch Lee Anne's story and learn why it's time to Set Your Screen against cancer.
Why Screening Matters
Early detection gives you more options. Many cancers are more treatable when found early. That's why recommended screenings are such an important part of staying healthy.
Screening can help:
- Find cancer before symptoms develop
- Detect precancerous changes that may be treated before cancer develops
- Improve treatment options and outcomes
- Give you peace of mind about your health
Don't wait until you're on defense. Take action today.
Know Your Screening Playbook
Your age, family history, personal health history, and risk factors can affect which screenings you need and when.
Don’t wait for symptoms to make a move. Use the chart below to identify key cancer screening milestones by age and start the conversation with your healthcare provider.
| AGE | WOMEN | MEN |
|---|---|---|
| 21 |
Start cervical cancer screening Begin talking with your healthcare provider about family history and cancer risk* |
Begin talking with your healthcare provider about family history and cancer risk* |
| 40 | Start annual mammograms for breast cancer screening | |
| 45 | Start colorectal cancer screening | Start colorectal cancer screening |
| 50 |
Ask about lung cancer screening if you have a smoking history** Talk to your provider about ovarian cancer screening |
Ask about lung cancer screening if you have a smoking history** |
| 55 | Continue the conversation and recommended screenings | Talk with your provider about prostate cancer screening |
| 65 | Talk with your provider about whether cervical cancer screening should continue | Continue the conversation and recommended screenings |
| 75 | Discuss which screenings remain appropriate for your health and risk factors | Discuss which screenings remain appropriate for your health and risk factors |
Family history, lifestyle and personal risk factors may mean that you should start certain screenings at an earlier age than common recommendations. Make sure you have open dialogue with your doctor so they can help guide you to any screening you may benefit from.
** Lung cancer screening is recommended for adults ages 50-80 with a 20 pack-per-year smoking history who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
Build Your Screening Strategy
The milestone chart highlights key ages to keep in mind, but you should work with your healthcare team to create a plan that’s right for you. Use the information below to learn more about each cancer screening, recommended screening intervals and how to schedule the screenings that are right for you.
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.
An Assist from Supporting Players
There are many resources that can be useful in understanding your personal risk factors and setting the best screening plan that’s right for you.
Always start with a conversation with your primary healthcare provider. The Markey Cancer Center has created this discussion guide to help you start that conversation.
If you don’t have a consistent primary care provider, take steps now to establish care. If you’d like to schedule at UK HealthCare in Lexington or surrounding communities, visit Primary Care | UK Healthcare.
Knowing your family history and any genetic impact is important to understanding your cancer risk. Genetic counseling is a good first step to learning what your risk may be and if you are a good candidate for genetic testing. Learn more about the Genetic Counseling program at Markey Cancer Center.
