It is now recommended that all women get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40, instead of the previously recommended starting age of 45. However, for women with the following, yearly screenings may need to start earlier:

• Dense breast tissue
• Family history of breast cancer
• Prior diagnosis of breast cancer
• Other health or environmental factors that put you at risk

Colon screenings are recommended every five years for people at average risk starting at age 45 and continuing until age 75. Others may need to be tested before age 45, and more regularly, if they have any of the following:

• Personal or family history of certain kinds of polyps
• History of radiation to the belly to treat a prior cancer
• Family history of a hereditary syndrome such as Lynch syndrome
• Other health or environmental factors that put you at risk

Unlike other screenings, lung screenings are only recommended for adults who have no symptoms present but are at high risk. You are at high risk if:

• You are between 50 and 80 years old, and
• You smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
• You have a history of smoking 20 packs or more a year
• You have other health or environmental factors that put you at risk.