Lifesaving information about Delaware’s cancer prevention, screening, and treatment services.
How can you reduce your cancer risk? Eating right, getting physically active, and having regular cancer screenings that follow recommended guidelines can help you stay healthy. But, what if you are diagnosed with cancer? There’s information about that here too — so you’ll know how to not only survive, but thrive.
Cancer types:
Breast Cancer
Learn MoreCervical Cancer
Learn MoreColon Cancer
Learn MoreLung Cancer
Learn MoreSkin Cancer
Learn MoreProstate Cancer
Learn MoreOther Cancers
Learn MoreScreenings
When you should be screened and how often:
Women 25 to 40
Screening:
- Physical examination of breasts by a health care provider 1
How Often: Every 1 to 3 years
Other Actions:
- Breast self-awareness 2
- Risk assessment 3
How Often: Regularly
Women 40 and Older
Screening:
- Mammogram 1
How Often: Annually
Other Actions:
- Breast self-awareness 2
- Risk assessment 3
How Often: Regularly
Women 21 and Older 4,5
Screening or Vaccine: Pelvic Exam
How Often: Annually
Women 21 to 29
Screening or Vaccine: Pap Test
How Often: Every 3 years
Women 30 to 65
Screening or Vaccine: Pap Test
How Often: Every 3 years or every 5 years with HPV co-testing
Men and Women 45 and Older 4,5
Screening or Vaccine: FIT Test, Colonoscopy, or Cologuard
How Often:
- FIT Test: Annually
- Colonoscopy: Every 10 years
- Cologuard: Every 3 years
Men and women 50-80 who:
- Smoke or have–smoked a pack a day for 20 or more years, or 2 packs a day for 10 or more years
- Currently smoke or quit smoking within the past 15 years
Screening should be discontinued once a person:
- Has not smoked for 15 years
- Develops a health problem that substantially limits life expectancy or the ability or willingness to have curative lung surgery
Screening or Vaccine: Low-dose CT scan
How Often: Talk to your health care provider to determine if a lung cancer screening is recommended
Updated in April 2021
Average Risk: men 50 years and older 4,5
High Risk: men 45 years and older; high-risk men include African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age. Early age defined as less than 65 years.
Higher Risk: men 40 years and older – men who have more than one first-degree relative who has had prostate cancer at an early age (less than 65). 4,5
Screening or Vaccine: Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test with or without a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
How Often: Talk to your health care provider to determine if prostate screening is recommended
Per Screening for Life guidelines dated July 2021.
1 For women of average risk for breast cancer.
2 Become familiar with the normal look and feel of breasts, reporting any changes to a health care provide.
3 Determination of breast cancer risk based on age, family history, genetics, and personal medical and lifestyle histories.
4 Talk with your health care provider about individual screening recommendations.
5 Individuals with a family history of cancer may qualify for screening at an earlier age.
Delaware Cancer Services and Programs
Access the care you need, when you need it.
Whether you have insurance or not, services are available to help you get screened for cancer and, if a diagnosis is made, get treated for cancer and not just survive, but live a thriving, healthy life after cancer.
Nurse Navigators
Delaware nurse navigators can help you get screened for cancer.
Whether you have insurance or not, Delaware nurse navigators can help you get screened for cancer and provide follow-up help when you get your results. Choose from the list below to call a nurse navigator directly, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or click the call request button to have a nurse navigator contact you.
- Bayhealth: 302-566-1202
- Beebe Healthcare: 302-297-8342
- Christiana Care: 302-261-8719
- TidalHealth: 302-604-5243 ext. 3765
- Saint Francis Hospital: 302-504-6732
- Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition: 302-672-6435 ext. 1002
Helpful links
Quit Smoking
There are two ways to get help to quit smoking from specially trained counselors: Call the Delaware Quitline by phone at 1-866-409-1858 or visit QuitSupport.com.
Learn moreHealthy Living
Live better. Our Healthy Lifestyle Map will show you where you can find fresh local produce at farmers’ markets and how to stay active at local fitness centers and parks.
View Healthy Lifestyle MapActivity Lowers Your Risk for Certain Cancers
Access the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity and Cancer chart to see how regular physical activity can lower your risk for eight cancers.
Learn more