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Preventive care and screenings, one step at a time

Based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and CDC recommendations
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Cancer Screening

Colorectal, breast, cervical and lung cancer screening.

A gastroenterologist holding an endoscope beside a monitor in a procedure room

Colorectal Cancer Screening From 45: Choosing a Test

By Start Health Way Writers

Who should be screened for colorectal cancer and when, how colonoscopy, stool tests and other options compare, follow-up after a positive result, and coverage.

Read the guide→
A CT scanner and patient table in a hospital imaging room

Lung Cancer Screening: Do You Qualify for a Low-Dose CT Scan?

By Start Health Way Writers

Who qualifies for yearly low-dose CT lung cancer screening, how to count pack-years, what false positives mean, and why quitting smoking still matters most.

Read the guide→
An exam room at a community health center with an exam table, desk and chair

Cervical Cancer Screening: Pap Tests, HPV Tests and How Often

By Start Health Way Writers

U.S. cervical cancer screening schedules by age, how Pap and HPV tests differ, self-collection, when screening can stop, and how the HPV vaccine fits in.

Read the guide→
A technologist positioning a patient at a mammography machine

Mammograms From 40: The Current Breast Cancer Screening Advice

By Start Health Way Writers

Why mammograms are now advised every two years from 40 to 74, what dense breast notices mean, 3D mammography, call-backs and higher-risk screening.

Read the guide→

About Start Health Way

Plain-language guides to adult checkups and screenings in the U.S., based on Task Force and CDC recommendations.

How we work

Screenings by age

  • 18 and up: blood pressure; hepatitis C once (to 79)
  • 15 to 65: HIV at least once
  • 21 to 65: cervical cancer
  • 35 to 70: diabetes, if overweight
  • 40 to 74: mammogram every 2 years
  • 45 to 75: colorectal cancer
  • 50 to 80: lung cancer, with a heavy smoking history
  • 65 and up: bone density for women

For people at average risk. Your clinician may suggest a different schedule.

A few numbers to know

  • Blood pressure: normal is below 120/80
  • Fasting blood sugar: 99 mg/dL or below is normal
  • A1C: below 5.7% is normal

Your clinician can tell you what your own targets should be.

Blood pressure · Diabetes screening

Topics

  • Cancer Screening (4)
  • Other Screenings (3)
  • Your Checkup (4)

Latest guides

  • Preventive Care Coverage: What Health Insurance Must Cover
  • Your Preventive Checkup: What Happens and How to Prepare
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening From 45: Choosing a Test
  • Blood Pressure Numbers: What They Mean and How Often to Check

Start Health Way

Preventive care and screenings, one step at a time. General information only; for personal advice, talk with your clinician.

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Official resources

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Medicare.gov

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