| Breast cancer |
| MAMMOGRAPHY |
| AAFP | Every 1 to 2 years, ages 50 to 69; counsel women ages 40 to 49 about potential risks and benefits of mammography and clinical breast examination. |
| ACOG | Every 1 to 2 years starting at age 40, yearly after age 50 |
| ACS | Annually after age 40 |
| AMA | Every 1 to 2 years in women ages 40 to 49; annually beginning at age 50 |
| CTFPHC | Every 1 to 2 years, ages 50 to 59 |
| NIH | Data currently available do not warrant a universal recommendation for mammography for women in their 40s; each woman should decide for herself whether to undergo mammography. |
| USPSTF | Every 1 to 2 years, ages 50 to 69 |
| CLINICAL BREAST EXAMINATION |
| AAFP | Every 1 to 2 years, ages 50 to 69; counsel women ages 40 to 49 about potential risks and benefits of mammography and clinical breast examination. |
| ACOG | Yearly (or as appropriate) general health evaluation that includes examination to detect signs of premalignant or malignant conditions |
| ACS | Every 3 years, ages 20 to 39; yearly after age 40; monthly breast self-examination beginning at age 20 |
| AMA | Continuation of clinical breast examinations in asymptomatic women older than age 40 |
| CTFPHC | Yearly, ages 50 to 69 |
| USPSTF | Insufficient evidence to recommend for or against using clinical breast examination alone; optional every 1 to 2 years, ages 50 to 69 |
| Cervical cancer |
| AAFP | Pap test at least every 3 years to women who have ever had sexual intercourse and who have a cervix |
| ACOG | Annual Pap test and pelvic examination beginning at age 18 or when sexually active; after 3 or more tests with normal results, Pap test may be performed less frequently on physician's advice. |
| ACS | Pap test annually starting at age 18 or when sexually active; after 2 to 3 normal (negative) tests, continue at discretion of physician. |
| AGS | Pap test every 3 years until age 70; in women of any age who have never had a Pap test, screening with at least 2 negative smears 1 year apart |
| AMA | Annual Pap test and pelvic examination starting at age 18 (or when sexually active); after 3 or more normal annual Pap tests, the Pap test may be performed less frequently at the physician's discretion. |
| CTFPHC | Pap test annually beginning at age 18 or following initiation of sexual activity; after 2 normal Pap results, perform Pap tests every 3 years to age 69. |
| USPSTF | Pap test at least every 3 years in women who have ever had sexual intercourse and who have a cervix; discontinue regular testing after age 65 if Pap test results have been consistently normal. |
| Colorectal cancer |
| AAFP | No published standards or guidelines for low-risk patients |
| ACOG | After age 50, annual FOBT (DRE should accompany pelvic examination); sigmoidoscopy every 3 to 5 years |
| ACS | After age 50, yearly FOBT plus flexible sigmoidoscopy and DRE every 5 years or colonoscopy and DRE every 10 years or double-contrast barium enema and DRE every 5 to 10 years |
| AMA | Annual FOBT beginning at age 50, and flexible sigmoidoscopy every 3 to 5 years beginning at age 50 |
| AGA | FOBT beginning at age 59 (frequency not specified); sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, double-contrast barium enema every 5 to 10 years or colonoscopy every 10 years. |
| CTFPHC | Insufficient evidence to recommend using FOBT screening in the periodic health examination of individuals older than age 40; insufficient evidence to recommend sigmoidoscopy in the periodic health examination; insufficient evidence to recommend screening with colonoscopy in the general population |
| USPSTF | After age 50, yearly FOBT and/or sigmoidoscopy (unspecified frequency for sigmoidoscopy) |
| Prostate cancer |
| AAFP | No published standards or guidelines for low-risk patients |
| ACP-ASIM | Physicians should describe potential benefits and known harms of screening, diagnosis and treatment; listen to the patient's concerns, then individualize the decision to screen. |
| ACS and AUA | Offer annual DRE and PSA screening, beginning at age 50, to men who have at least a 10-year life expectancy and to younger men at high risk. |
| AMA | Provide information regarding the risks and potential benefits of prostate screening. |
| CTFPHC and USPSTF | DRE and PSA tests are not recommended for the general population. |
| Skin cancer |
| ACS | Cancer-related checkup, including skin examination every 3 years between ages 20 and 40, and every year for anyone age 40 and older |
| AMA | Patients should talk to their physicians about the frequency of screening for skin cancer (those at modestly increased risk should see a primary care physician annually); skin self-examination should be performed monthly. |
| CTFPHC | Insufficient evidence to recommend for or against total-body skin examination or self-examination; counsel on avoiding sun exposure and wearing protective clothing. |
| USPSTF | Insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for skin cancer by primary care clinicians or counseling patients to perform periodic skin examination. |
| Testicular cancer |
| ACS | Examine testicles as part of a cancer-related checkup. |
| CTFPHC | Insufficient evidence to recommend routine examination of testes by physician or by patient self-examination |
| USPSTF | Insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening of asymptomatic men in the general population by physician examination or patient self-examination |