General Screening Guidelines

 All guidelines are meant to start a conversation with the physician about the patient’s
status
 We recognize that physician preference from the screen may differ
Cervical Cancer Screening
Age 21-65
 Begin at age 21 OR 3 years after becoming sexually active – whichever comes later
 3 normal PAPS consecutively in 5 years – then may switch to Q3 years
 IF the patient has ever had an abnormal PAP screening should occur more frequent
HISTORY OF HYSTERECTOMY
 Discuss with the patient the reason for hysterectomy. If it was for cancer, or abnormal
cells, vaginal vault PAP may be called for. Discuss with physician.
BREAST CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES
NO FAMILY HISTORY
 Women aged 50-74: Every two years, or as recommended on previous screens
 Women aged 40-49: Discuss with physician
FAMILY HISTORY OF 1st DEGREE RELATIVE OR MULTIPLE 2nd DEGREE
RELATIVES
 10 years prior to the age of diagnosis
PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES
 Begin at age 55-70
 Repeat every 2-4 years according to physician request
COLON CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES
NO FAMILY HISTORY – Begin at age 50-75
 Colonoscopy – repeat every 10 years if normal or as indicated
OR
 FIT testing yearly
OR
 Virtual Colonoscopy every 5 years
*NOTE: The new guidelines from the American Cancer Society suggests screening starts at 45 –
this should be discussed with the MD. It is unlikely that the colon cancer screening program in
Calgary will take healthy individuals under the age of 50 at this time.
WITH FAMILY HISTORY OF POLYPS OR COLON CANCER IN 1st DEGREE
RELATIVE
  Colonoscopy 10 years prior to family members diagnosis
 Repeat every 5 years
CARDIOVASCULAR SCREENING GUIDELINES
HIGH RISK FACTORS:
 Smoking status, age, weight, male, post menopausal, family history of early heart disease,
history of high cholesterol & hypertension
 Discuss screening with physician
 Update Framingham Risk Scores (FRS) with each new set of lipids.
ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM (AAA) SCREENING
HIGH RISK FACTORS:
 Family History, Smoking status, hypertension, male
 Discuss a one-time screen with physician at age 65
BONE MINERAL DENSITOMETRY (BMD) SCREENING GUIDELINES:
HIGH RISK FACTORS: Long term steroid use, weight, history of previous fracture, history of
rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, malnutrition, chemotherapy, smoking, radiation exposure
MALE:
 Discuss screening at age 65 – or earlier if he has high risks
 Repeat ever 3-5 years as indicated
FEMALE:
 Begin 5 years after menopause or at age 65
 Repeat every 3-5 years as indicated
HEP C SCREENING
 Those born between 1945-1975
 Received health care where there is lack of infection prevention
 Received a blood transfusion, or organ transplant before 1992 in Canada
 History of incarceration
 Born or resided in a region where hepatitis C is endemic
 History of IV drug use even once