Cancer Screenings for Men

Cancer screenings are an essential part of men’s overall health care. When completed at the right time, based on age, it can help detect cancer early when treatment is most effective.

Cancers that can be detected with screening include:

Colorectal – The third-most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S.
Lung – The leading cause of cancer death, responsible for about one in five cancer deaths.
Prostate – Affects about 1 in 8 men during their lifetime.
Skin – Early detection leads to a 99% five-year survival rate for melanoma.
Testicular – The average age of diagnosis is 33.

Many of these cancers may not show symptoms in early stages, making regular screenings vital. Your primary care provider will assess your risk factors and overall health to recommend screening options for early detection and better treatment outcomes.

Age 30-44

Perform a thorough self-exam of your skin monthly, checking areas including under your nails and hair, and report any concerns to your provider. Look for new spots, non-healing sores, rough red patches, wart-like growths or changes in existing moles.
Conduct a monthly testicular self-exam, inspecting each testicle for hard lumps, nodules or changes in size, shape or consistency.
If more than one family member has had prostate cancer before age 65, talk to your primary care provider to discuss whether you should begin prostate cancer screening.

Age 45-49

Perform a thorough self-exam of your skin monthly, checking areas including under your nails and hair, and report any concerns to your provider. Look for new spots, non-healing sores, rough red patches, wart-like growths or changes in existing moles.
Conduct a monthly testicular self-exam, inspecting each testicle for hard lumps, nodules or changes in size, shape or consistency.
If you are Black or have an immediate family member who has had prostate cancer before age 65, talk to your primary care provider to discuss whether prostate cancer screening is right for you.
Get a colonoscopy every 10 years beginning at age 45. Other colorectal cancer screening options include:
- Stool-based test every year
- Stool-based DNA test every three years
- CT colonography test every five years

Age 50 and older

Perform a thorough self-exam of your skin monthly, checking areas including under your nails and hair, and report any concerns to your provider. Look for new spots, non-healing sores, rough red patches, wart-like growths or changes in existing moles.
If you’re a current or former smoker in good health with at least a 20 pack-year smoking history (smoking one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years, or two packs per day for 10 years), talk to your provider to see if you qualify for a lung cancer screening.
Talk to your primary care provider to see if a prostate cancer screening is right for you.
Get a colonoscopy every 10 years. If you’re at average risk for colorectal cancer, you can stop screening at age 75. Other colorectal cancer screening options include:
- Stool-based test every year
- Stool-based DNA test every three years
- CT colonography test every five years

Cancer Risk Factors for Men

Knowing your cancer risk can help you and your provider create a plan to take control of your health. Certain factors can increase a man’s cancer risk, including:

Family History: If close relatives had cancer, you may be at higher risk.
Smoking: Quitting or reducing smoking lowers cancer risk significantly.
Diet: A healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, can help reduce risk.
Obesity: Maintaining a healthy weight lowers risk for certain cancers.
Age: Cancer risk increases as we age, making regular screenings important.
Alcohol: Cutting back on alcohol to no more than 2 drinks per day can help lower cancer risk.
Harmful Substances: Chemicals, like weed killer, can raise risk; take safety precautions.