LUNG CANCER: An annual low-dose CT scan of the chest is recommended for adults 55 to 80 who have a 30-pack-year smoking history and either currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. A pack-year is the number of packs per day multiplied by the number of years the person has smoked. For example, smoking one pack a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years both represent a 30-pack-year history.
Annual prostate cancer screening using a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test was once recommended, but is no longer. The test does a poor job of identifying prostate cancer and can lead to unnecessary treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer talk with their doctors about the pros and cons of testing beginning at 45. Other men should do so starting at 50.
PREVENTION: While cancer screenings are important for detecting cancer early-when it is most treatable-there is a lot you can do to prevent cancer in the first place. Not smoking is a critical step, but so are other lifestyle behaviors. The World Cancer Fund estimates that 20 percent of cancers diagnosed in the United States could be prevented by adopting a healthy diet, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. All are habits worth taking up and keeping.
