FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Get to know more about the benefits of early cancer screening. Here, you'll find frequently asked questions about which screening tests may be right for you and resources to help locate local health centers where you can get screened.

Why should I get screened for cancer?

Screening increases the chance of finding certain cancers at an early stage - and early detection remains our best bet for treatment.⁵

What screenings are right for me?

Visit our cancer screening guidelines page to learn more. You can also download and print helpful materials on our resources page.

Where can I find a screening health center?

There are health centers all over the country that take various forms of coverage or non-coverage. Find a cancer screening location near you through the Health Resources and Services Administration clinic finder and the American College of Radiology lung cancer screening locator.

Can I get screened if I don't have health insurance?

If you don't have insurance, you can explore free or low-cost cancer screening options through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services through the Affordable Care Act.

Which common cancers can potentially be diagnosed early through preventive screening?

Detecting cancer early through screening reduces deaths from colorectal, breast, cervical, lung (among current and former heavy smokers), and likely prostate cancers.^1,5 Download our cancer screening fact sheet to learn more.

SPREAD THE WORD

Share potentially life-saving information about common cancer types and screenings with your family, friends and others.

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  American Cancer Society. Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 2021-2022. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-prevention-and-early-detection-facts-and-figures/2021-cancer-prevention-and-early-detection.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2018-2020; 2018. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-hispanics-and-latinos/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-hispanics-and-latinos-2018-2020.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2018-2020; 2018. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-hispanics-and-latinos/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-hispanics-and-latinos-2018-2020.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2019-2021; 2019. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-african-americans/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-african-americans-2019-2021.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2019-2021; 2019. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-african-americans/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-african-americans-2019-2021.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Society of Clinical Oncology Policy Statement: Disparities in Cancer Care. Journal of Clinical Oncology; 2019. Available at: https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2008.21.1680. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Society of Clinical Oncology Policy Statement: Disparities in Cancer Care. Journal of Clinical Oncology; 2019. Available at: https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2008.21.1680. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2022. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2022/2022-cancer-facts-and-figures.pdf. March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2022. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2022/2022-cancer-facts-and-figures.pdf. March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Lung Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=Lung%20cancer%20is%20by%20far,breast%2C%20and%20prostate%20cancers%20combined. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Lung Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=Lung%20cancer%20is%20by%20far,breast%2C%20and%20prostate%20cancers%20combined. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. Lung Cancer: Screening. Available at: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. Lung Cancer: Screening. Available at: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Lung Cancer Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8705.00.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Lung Cancer Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8705.00.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. How Common is Breast Cancer? Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. How Common is Breast Cancer? Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Survival Rates for Breast Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-survival-rates.html. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Survival Rates for Breast Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-survival-rates.html. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2020-2022; 2020. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures-2020-2022.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2020-2022; 2020. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures-2020-2022.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
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  Smith RA, Andrews KS, Brooks D, et al. Cancer screening in the United States, 2019: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and current issues in cancer screening. CA Cancer J Clin. 2019. Available at: https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21557. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Cervical Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=Cervical%20pre%2Dcancers%20are%20diagnosed,use%20of%20the%20Pap%20test. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Cervical Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=Cervical%20pre%2Dcancers%20are%20diagnosed,use%20of%20the%20Pap%20test. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. HPV and HPV Testing. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/infectious-agents/hpv/hpv-and-hpv-testing.html. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. HPV and HPV Testing. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/infectious-agents/hpv/hpv-and-hpv-testing.html. Accessed March 1, 2022.
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  Fontham ETH, Wolf AMD, Church TR, et al. Cervical Cancer Screening for Individuals at Average Risk: 2020 Guideline Update from the American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin. 2020. Available at: https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21628. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed March 1, 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/6930.00.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  
  American Cancer Society. Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/6930.00.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2022.
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  Cancer Screen Week: Awareness Survey. September 2021. Available at: www.cancerscreenweek.org. Accessed March 1, 2022.