Reference — Oncology
Cancer Screening Guidelines Reference
Screening finds cancer early — or prevents it — in people without symptoms. Here are the major adult screening tests, who they’re for, and the teaching that goes with each.
Educational use only. Screening recommendations vary by organization (USPSTF, ACS) and change over time; ages here are typical ranges. Individual screening is a provider/shared decision. This reference is an educational overview. This material supports nursing education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or medical direction. Always follow facility protocols and current provider orders.
Adult Cancer Screening
| Cancer | Screening test | Who / when (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Breast | Mammography (± clinical exam, MRI for high risk) | Women ~40–50 to 74 (guidelines vary); earlier/MRI for BRCA or strong family history |
| Cervical | Pap (cytology) ± HPV co-testing | Begin ~age 21; Pap q3yr 21–29; Pap+HPV q5yr 30–65 |
| Colorectal | Colonoscopy (gold standard) or FIT/FIT-DNA/stool tests | Begin age 45; colonoscopy q10yr if normal; earlier with family history/IBD |
| Lung | Low-dose CT (LDCT) | High-risk adults ~50–80 with a significant (e.g., 20 pack-year) smoking history, current or recently quit |
| Prostate | PSA ± DRE | Shared decision ~age 50 (45 for higher-risk: African American, family history) |
Teaching Points
Colonoscopy both screens and prevents — removing polyps stops the adenoma-to-carcinoma sequence; a positive stool test (FIT) must be followed by colonoscopy. LDCT is only for high-risk smokers, paired with cessation counseling. PSA is a shared decision because of overdiagnosis/overtreatment risk. The HPV vaccine prevents most cervical (and other HPV-related) cancers and complements Pap screening. Encourage patients to know their family history, which can move screening earlier.
NCLEX Pearls
- ✦Colonoscopy (start 45) is the gold standard for colorectal screening AND prevents cancer by removing polyps.
- ✦Mammography screens for breast cancer; earlier screening/MRI for BRCA or strong family history.
- ✦Low-dose CT screens high-risk older adults with a heavy smoking history — pair with cessation support.
- ✦PSA prostate screening is a SHARED decision (overdiagnosis/overtreatment risk).
- ✦Pap ± HPV screens cervical cancer; the HPV vaccine prevents most cases.
- ✦A positive stool test (FIT) requires a follow-up colonoscopy.
Related Resources
Standards & sources
Fact-checked Jun 21, 2026This page is written to align with Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) · National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) · American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). It is an educational summary, not a citation of any single document — always verify specific doses, values, and protocols against current guidelines and your facility policy. How we source content →