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GERICLINICS

Clinical case · Cancer screening

Do I still need my mammogram?

A fit 79-year-old woman asks which cancer screening tests she still needs, and her 82-year-old husband wants a PSA test. Decide test by test, using age, health, past screening and preferences.

Intermediate 12 minNeeds clinical review

You will learn to

  • Apply age limits and grades for colorectal, breast, cervical, prostate and lung cancer screening in older adults
  • Use previous screening history to decide whether a test is due at all
  • Explain uncertain benefit and overdiagnosis so that the person can decide

Presentation

Step 1 of 10

A 79-year-old woman comes for her yearly review with a list of questions. "My friend says I should keep having mammograms. Do I need another colonoscopy? And my husband wants to know whether he should have a PSA test."

References

  1. US Preventive Services Task Force. Colorectal Cancer: Screening. Final recommendation statement, 18 May 2021. Also published as: Davidson KW, Barry MJ, Mangione CM, et al. Screening for Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;325(19):1965–1977. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.6238 · PubMed 34003218link
  2. US Preventive Services Task Force. Breast Cancer: Screening. Final recommendation statement, 30 April 2024. Also published as: Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, Wong JB, et al. Screening for Breast Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2024;331(22):1918–1930. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534 · PubMed 38687503link
  3. US Preventive Services Task Force. Cervical Cancer: Screening. Final recommendation statement, 21 August 2018. Also published as: Curry SJ, Krist AH, Owens DK, et al. Screening for Cervical Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2018;320(7):674–686. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.10897 · PubMed 30140884link
  4. US Preventive Services Task Force. Prostate Cancer: Screening. Final recommendation statement, 8 May 2018. Also published as: Grossman DC, Curry SJ, Owens DK, et al. Screening for Prostate Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2018;319(18):1901–1913. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.3710 · PubMed 29801017link
  5. US Preventive Services Task Force. Lung Cancer: Screening. Final recommendation statement, 9 March 2021. Also published as: Krist AH, Davidson KW, Mangione CM, et al. Screening for Lung Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;325(10):962–970. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.1117 · PubMed 33687470link

Last updated 2026-10-22.

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