Zhu Family Center for Cancer Prevention
At the interdisciplinary Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention, our mission is to support groundbreaking research that develops and implements novel methods, technologies, and tools to further the translation of cancer prevention work into clinical and public health practice. We are dedicated to prevention education and research across the cancer continuum.
631 Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building (FXB)
651 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
Early Detection and Screening
It’s estimated that nearly nine million people die from cancer each year. But research shows that more than half of those cancers could be averted if known prevention strategies were optimally used. Most tumors are incurable once they reach an advanced stage, which means that prevention is our best weapon for combating cancer. A 2018 World Health Organization report concluded that, even for cancers with effective treatment options, prevention has the greatest potential to reduce the burden of cancer in the general population.
Getting regularly screened for various cancers is one of the best ways to ensure that you are healthy. Screening can catch tumors early, when they are easier to treat than after they’ve had a chance to grow over time. Below is information about screenings for some common forms of cancer.
Finding breast cancer early and getting state-of-the-art cancer treatment are the most important strategies to prevent deaths from breast cancer. Breast cancer that’s found early, when tumors are small and have not spread, is easier to treat successfully. The most reliable way to detect breast cancer early is for women to get regular screening tests.
- Women ages 40 to 44 may elect to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms (x-rays of the breast).
- Women age 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
- Women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every two years or can elect to continue yearly screening.
For people at average risk for colorectal cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends starting regular screening at age 45. This can be done either with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in a person’s stool or with a visual exam in which a practitioner examines the colon and rectum.
The American Cancer Society recommends cervical cancer screening with an HPV (human papillomavirus) test alone every five years for everyone with a cervix from age 25 until age 65. If HPV testing alone is not available, people can get screened with an HPV/Pap cotest every five years or a Pap test every three years.
- Cervical cancer screening should start at age 25. People under age 25 should not be tested, because cervical cancer is rare in this age group.
- People between the ages of 25 and 65 should receive a primary HPV test every five years. If a primary HPV test is not available, a co-test (an HPV test with a Pap test) every five years or a Pap test every three years are still good options.
The American Cancer Society recommends that at the time of menopause, all women should be told about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer. Women should report any unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting to their doctors. Because of their health history, some women may need to consider having a yearly endometrial biopsy. Please consult with a health care provider about your health history.
The American Cancer Society recommends yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT) for certain people at higher risk for lung cancer who meet the following conditions:
- Are aged 55 to 74 years and in fairly good health and currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 15 years and have at least a 30 pack-year smoking history. (A pack-year is one pack of cigarettes per day per year. One pack per day for 30 years or two packs per day for 15 years would both be 30 pack-years.)
The American Cancer Society recommends that men make an informed decision with a health care provider about whether to be tested for prostate cancer. Research has not yet proven that the potential benefits of testing outweigh the harms of testing and treatment. Experts believe that men should not be tested without first learning about what is known and not known about the risks and possible benefits of testing and treatment.
Although the American Cancer Society does not have guidelines for the early detection of skin cancer, knowing your own skin is important to finding skin cancer early. You should know the pattern of moles, blemishes, freckles, and other marks on your skin so that you’ll notice any new moles or changes in existing moles.
Find out about the many cancer screenings available to you.