Cancer Prevention, Screening, and Survivorship
Cancer Prevention
You can reduce your risk of getting cancer:
- Avoid using tobacco and tobacco smoke
- Avoid using alcohol
- Eat healthy and avoid processed foods
- Be active regularly
- Vaccinate against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher -- even on cloudy days and in the winter
- Test your home for radon
- Test your well water for arsenic
Cancer Screening
Regular screening tests can help prevent cancers or find them early when it's easier to treat. Below are recommendations for those at average risk for cancer. Talk with your health care provider before having any cancer screening to make sure it's the right test at the right time for you. To learn more visit www.screenmaine.org. Find out if you qualify for free breast and cervical cancer screenings.
| Cancer Type | Ages 21-29 | Ages 30-39 | Ages 40-49 | Ages 50+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breast | Talk to your health care provider about your risk, including family history and genetics | Talk to your health care provider about your risk, including family history and genetics | Mammogram every 2 years | Mammogram every 2 years until age 74 |
| Cervical | Pap test every 3 years | Pap test every 3 years, OR Pap and HPV test every 5 years | Pap test every 3 years, OR Pap and HPV test every 5 years | Pap and HPV test every 5 years until age 65 |
| Colorectal | Talk with your health care provider about your risk, including family history and genetics | Talk with your health care provider about your risk, including family history and genetics | Starting at 45, colonoscopy every 10 years OR stool test every 1 to 3 years | Starting at 45, colonoscopy every 10 years OR stool test every 1 to 3 years |
| Lung | CT scan for current or past smoker until age 80. Talk with your health care provider about the benefits/risks | |||
| Prostate | Talk with your health care provider about the benefits and risks of the PSA test | Talk with your health care provider about the benefits and risks of the PSA test | ||
| Skin | Total body skin exam every year | Total body skin exam every year | Total body skin exam every year | Total body skin exam every year |
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Cancer Survivorship
Many cancer survivors live long, happy, and healthy lives. In Maine, there are more than 70,000 people who were diagnosed with cancer in the last 20 years and are still alive today.
Publications
- Community Engagement Report for the Maine Cancer Plan (PDF)
- Maine Cancer Registry Data Reports
- Maine Cancer Plan 2021-2025 (PDF)
- 2024 Maine Cancer Plan Metrics Update (PDF)
- 2024 Maine Lung Cancer Screening Survey (PDF)
- 2023 Cancer Survivorship Data Brief (PDF)
- 2022 Obesity-Associated Cancer Data Brief (PDF)