United States Preventive Service Taskforce (USPSTF)

Older than 65 or after Hysterectomy: Screening is not recommended for women older than 65 who have had adequate prior screening, or for women who have had a total hysterectomy with removal of the cervix and no history of a high-grade precancerous lesion.

Breast Cancer

The USPSTF recommends that all women get screened for breast cancer with mammography every other year, starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74. This is a change from previous guidelines, which suggested women in their 40s should make an individual decision with their doctor. The new recommendation emphasizes that starting at age 40 has the potential to save more lives.

Osteoporosis

Women 65 years and older: The USPSTF recommends screening for osteoporosis to prevent fractures.

Postmenopausal women younger than 65: Screening is recommended for those who are at increased risk of an osteoporotic fracture. This risk is typically estimated using a clinical risk assessment tool.

Men: The USPSTF has determined there is insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and harms of screening for osteoporosis in men, and therefore makes no recommendation.

Colorectal Cancer

The USPSTF recommends screening for colorectal cancer for all adults between the ages of 45 and 75. For those aged 76 to 85, the decision to screen should be an individual one, based on the person's overall health and prior screening history. There are several recommended screening tests, including:

Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) annually

High-sensitivity guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) annually

FIT-DNA test every 1 to 3 years

Colonoscopy every 10 years

CT colonography every 5 years

Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or every 10 years when combined with a FIT every year.

Sample Answer

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) provides evidence-based recommendations for a wide range of preventive health services, including cancer screenings and other health-related issues. Here's a breakdown of the USPSTF screening guidelines for each of the requested topics.

Cervical Cancer

Ages 21-29: The USPSTF recommends screening every three years with a Pap test (cytology alone). Screening with HPV testing is not recommended for this age group.

Ages 30-65: Screening is recommended every three years with a Pap test alone, or every five years with a high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) test alone, or every five years with co-testing (both a Pap test and an hrHPV test)