Screening and preventative medicine


Screening tests allow health problems or cancer to be identified at an early stage to improve the patient’s health. In the table below you will find the major recommended screening tests. Talk to your doctor about them.

WOMEN

Test

Age

Cholesterol every 1 to 3 years* 50 years old
Diabetes every 3 years* 40 years old
Mammogram every 1 to 2 years** 50 years old
Colon cancer screening every 2 to 5 years** 50 years old
Pap Test every 1-3 years *** 21 years old and sexually active
Osteoporosis every 1-3 years**** 65 years old

 

MEN

Test

Age

Cholesterol every 1 to 3 years* 40 years old
Diabetes every 3 years* 40 years old
Prostate exam Only with at risk men
Colon cancer screening  every 2 to 5 years** 50 years old
Osteoporosis every 1-3 years**** 65 years old

* screening age may be lower if you have risk factors such as family history, abdominal obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, a known heart disease, etc.

** screening age may be lower if you have a family history.

*** unless your doctor advises you otherwise.

**** screening age may be lower if you have a family history, are a smoker, suffer from rhumatoid arthritis or have a history of hypothyroidism, if you have a small stature, or if you consume a large amount of caffeine or alcohol.

Fill out a short questionnaire and assess your risks from a preventative medicine perspective. Visit My Cancer IQ.

 

Recommended immunizations

  • Pneumonia vaccine (pneumococcus): over the age of 65, or if you have risk factors such as diabetes or a heart, lung or kidney disease.

  • Influenza (flu) vaccine: annually

  • Tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (Td): every 10 years