Cancer risk calculator: which check fits you?

Screening advice is for people without symptoms. If you have a symptom, such as a lump in a testicle, a mouth sore that lasts, blood in your urine or a mole that changes, see a doctor rather than using a screening check (USPSTF 2011) (USPSTF 2013) (USPSTF 2011) (USPSTF 2023).

Pick by the question you have

Breast cancer

• Breast cancer screening age: the USPSTF advises a mammogram every other year for women from 40 to 74 (USPSTF 2024).
• Breast cancer risk calculator (Gail model): your 5-year and lifetime chance of invasive breast cancer, from questions about your age, periods, children, past breast biopsies and close relatives. It is the model behind the NCI Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (NCI).
• BRCA family history check: the USPSTF recommends a short family history check for women whose personal or family history of breast, ovarian, tubal or peritoneal cancer suggests a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 change, and genetic counseling if it is positive (USPSTF 2019).
• Breast cancer prevention medicines: the USPSTF says tamoxifen, raloxifene or aromatase inhibitors should be offered to women 35 and older at increased risk who have a low risk of side effects, and not used routinely by others (USPSTF 2019).

Lung cancer

• Lung cancer screening eligibility: the USPSTF recommends a low-dose CT scan every year for adults aged 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who smoke now or quit within the past 15 years (USPSTF 2021). The check also works out your pack-years.
• Lung cancer risk calculator (PLCOm2012): your chance of a lung cancer diagnosis in the next 6 years, for people aged 55 to 74 who have ever smoked, from a model built on a large US screening trial (Tammemagi 2013).

Colon cancer

• Colon cancer screening age: the USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults from 45 to 75, and offering it selectively from 76 to 85 (USPSTF 2021). The check also covers when family history changes the plan.

Cervical cancer

• Cervical cancer screening: the USPSTF recommends a Pap test every 3 years from 21 to 29, and from 30 to 65 a Pap test every 3 years, an HPV test every 5 years or a cotest every 5 years (USPSTF 2018).
• HPV vaccine age check: CDC's vaccine advisory committee (ACIP) routinely recommends the HPV vaccine at 11 or 12, catch-up through age 26, and a shared decision with a clinician for some adults aged 27 through 45 (ACIP 2019).

Prostate cancer

• Prostate cancer screening: the USPSTF says a PSA test from 55 to 69 is a personal choice to make with your doctor, and recommends against PSA screening from 70 (USPSTF 2018).

Skin cancer

• Skin cancer screening: the USPSTF found the evidence insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of a visual skin exam by a clinician for adults without symptoms (I statement) (USPSTF 2023).
• Skin cancer prevention: the USPSTF recommends counseling on sun protection for fair-skinned people from 6 months to 24 years, and offering it selectively to fair-skinned adults over 24 (USPSTF 2018).

Oral cancer

• Oral cancer screening: the USPSTF found the evidence insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of a mouth exam by a primary care clinician for adults without symptoms (I statement) (USPSTF 2013).

Other cancers

For these cancers, the USPSTF recommends against screening people without symptoms (D) or found the evidence insufficient (I). Each check explains what that means for you and who the advice does not cover.

• Ovarian cancer screening: recommended against for women without symptoms (D) (USPSTF 2018).
• Thyroid cancer screening: recommended against for adults without symptoms (D) (USPSTF 2017).
• Pancreatic cancer screening: recommended against for adults without symptoms (D) (USPSTF 2019).
• Testicular cancer screening: recommended against for males without symptoms (D) (USPSTF 2011).
• Bladder cancer screening: evidence insufficient for adults without symptoms (I) (USPSTF 2011).
• Vitamins for heart and cancer: recommended against beta carotene and vitamin E (D); evidence insufficient for multivitamins (I) (USPSTF 2022).

What these checks cannot do

A risk score or screening check cannot tell you whether you have cancer. The two risk calculators give an estimate for groups of people like you, not a diagnosis, and only for the cancer and the ages they were built for (NCI) (Tammemagi 2013). Screening advice is for people without symptoms and at average risk unless a check says otherwise. A strong family history, a known gene change or past cancer can mean a different plan, so talk with your doctor.

See all cancer screening checks or the screening tests by age guide.