Figure  

Common recommendations for screening of cancers of the cervix, breast, colorectum, and lung

Breast
  • Annual or biennial mammogram (preferred) 
  • Clinical breast exam (resource-limited setting for early diagnosis of symptomatic women)
  • 50 to 69 years, every 2 years
Cervix
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA-based test as primary test
  • Beginning at age 30, every 5 to 10 years for women with average risk
  • Beginning at age 25, every 3 to 5 years for women with human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV)
Colorectum
  • Stool-based tests (guaiac test or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)) every 1 or 2 years 
  • Lower endoscopy (colonoscopy every 10 years, flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years*)
  • 50 to 74 years, every 1-2 years
Lung
  • Low-dose computed tomography scan (low-dose CT scan or LDCT) for heavy smokers, current or those who have recently quit
  • 50 to 80 years, annually

Footnote

The recommendations follow the WHO guidelines, except for lung cancer, which is based on the recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the EU Mission on Cancer.  *Frequencies are based on recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society.