How to Get Screened for Cancer
Research clearly shows that regular cancer screening can save your life. You might be at the age when cancer screening is recommended, or maybe you’re overdue because life got in the way. Or maybe you’re unsure about which tests are recommended. Learn how to know which screening tests are right for you, when to get them, and how to get screened.
Do I need to have a doctor to get screened?
Having a primary care provider or family doctor makes it easier to stay on top of your screening tests and follow up on test results.
A doctor can:
- Help you understand your cancer risk
- Monitor cancer risk factors
- Help you choose the right screening tests for you
- Order the screening tests and help you schedule them
- Explain your test results
- Help with next steps if the results show possible signs of cancer and refer you to a specialist if needed
But if you don’t have a doctor, you still have options for getting these important preventive tests.
Getting screened when you already have a doctor
If you already have a doctor, talking to them is the best place to start. If you have been seeing them for regular checkups, cancer screening may have already come up in a conversation. If you haven’t seen your doctor in a while, it’s a good idea to make an appointment for a physical exam.
At your next visit, ask about your cancer risk and which cancer screening tests are right for you. Your doctor will look at your age, family history, lifestyle, and personal health to help decide which tests are recommended and how often to get them. Their staff will help you find out more information, schedule the tests you need, and let you know how they will follow up with you after the tests.
How to find a doctor for screening and other preventive care
Look for a primary care physician (PCP) or a family doctor (sometimes called a generalist, internist, or internal medicine doctor). Sometimes specialists will order certain screening tests as well. For example, a gynecologist may order screening tests for breast or cervical cancer.
Many clinics and offices also have nurse practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants (PAs) who can recommend and order cancer screening tests.
Here are some tips for finding a doctor who can advise you on regular preventive care and the cancer screening tests and schedule that are right for you:
- Ask family and friends for suggestions.
- Check listings in local publications or online directories that let you filter by location to find doctors near you or those you can get to easily.
- Choose a hospital and look for a doctor who practices or has an office in or near that hospital.
- Check with your insurance company for a list of doctors covered by your plan.
No matter how you go about looking for a doctor, the most important thing is to find and establish care with one who fits your needs.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can also try calling local hospitals or your local health department. Sometimes they have medical clinics where people can see a doctor and get the tests they need.
Checking with your insurance company
If you have health insurance, here’s what to do when you find a doctor you like:
- Check with your insurance company to find out whether they are covered in your plan.
- Contact the doctor’s office and ask whether they’re on your health insurance plan and are taking new patients.
- If a doctor you like is not within your insurance network, ask your insurer how much it might cost you to see a doctor who is not in your network. Also find out if you will be responsible for any costs, such as a co-pay for office visits.
- Ask your insurance company whether your cancer screening tests and follow-up appointments will be covered fully or whether you will have a co-pay.
If you don’t have health insurance and need a screening test, learn about Costs and Insurance Coverage for Cancer Screening Tests.
Your new patient visit
Once you find a clinic or doctor, you will need to schedule a new patient visit. During this appointment, the doctor will review your overall health and discuss any risk factors you might have for cancer. Based on that information, they’ll recommend the cancer screening tests that are right for you. Together, you can decide which tests to do. Your doctor will also explain where and how to get them.
After your screening tests
Either your doctor’s office or the facility where you had the test will notify you of the results of your screening tests. This might happen by phone, email, patient portal, or mail depending on the type of test and results. If any of your screening test results show possible signs of cancer, you will have a follow-up appointment where the doctor will recommend the next steps and refer you to a specialist if needed.
Getting screened without a doctor
If you’re not able to get a primary or family doctor right away, there are often still ways to get screened without one. When contacting screening facilities, explain your situation and ask whether you are eligible for any programs that offer screening without needing a doctor’s order.
If you need information about the costs related to cancer screening, visit Costs and Insurance Coverage for Cancer Screening.
Finding screening locations and centers
Screening tests and the process for getting them are different for each cancer. Some communities have many different facilities that offer different screening tests while in other areas, options may be limited.
Depending on the type of screening test you need, some facilities require a doctor’s order (prescription) and an appointment to get screened. For certain types of tests, others may allow walk-ins and don’t require a doctor’s order.
When you find out what tests you need and are looking for a place to get screened, it’s best to call ahead to find out what’s needed. Here’s what to expect.
Screening for breast cancer is done with a mammogram. Your doctor can help you find a mammography location that works best for you. You can also contact your insurance company to find facilities listed in the plan where you can get a mammogram. Some facilities want you to schedule ahead of time while others may allow walk-ins. If you don’t have a doctor, you can contact:
- A local hospital, medical clinic, women’s clinic, or community health center
- Your local health department
- Any facility in a phone or community directory that does mammograms
- Mobile mammography companies that advertise in your area
- National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)
Learn more about screening guidelines in the American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer.
Screening tests for cervical cancer are the HPV test, Pap test, or a combined HPV and Pap test. These are usually done by a gynecologist during a pelvic exam. A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women’s health. Often, other doctors, nurses, and health care providers are also trained to do these screening tests. A more recent option for the HPV test is a self-collection or self-sampling test. It allows you to collect a vaginal sample yourself using a collection kit, either at home or while being supervised by a health care provider, without a pelvic exam.
Contact your insurance company to find facilities listed in the plan where you can get cervical cancer screening. Some facilities require a doctor’s order and most require appointments. If you don’t have a doctor, try contacting:
- A local hospital, medical clinic, women’s clinic, or community health center
- Your local health department
- Any facility in a phone or community directory that offers cervical cancer screening
- Mobile screening programs that advertise in your area
- National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)
Learn more about screening guidelines in the American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer.
There are several test options for colorectal cancer screening:
- Stool-based testing looks at your stool (poop) for signs of cancer. These can be done at home because you collect a sample of your stool using a kit and mail it in to be tested. Depending on the results of a stool test, you might need to have other tests.
- Visual exams look at the inside of the colon and rectum with a scope (colonoscopy) or special imaging test (colonography) to look for cancer or other problems. These tests are done in health care facilities with special equipment. You need a doctor’s order for these tests and might need to see a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon, to have the test.
Contact your insurance company to find facilities listed in the plan where you can go for colorectal cancer screening. If you don’t have a doctor, try contacting:
- A local hospital or medical clinic that can provide take-home stool tests
- Pharmacies and online stores that sell stool tests for colorectal cancer screening
- Your local health department
Learn more about the American Cancer Society Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer Screening.
Lung cancer screening is recommended for certain people who smoke or used to smoke. It’s done using a low-dose CAT scan or CT scan (LDCT). It’s important to talk to a doctor or health care provider about the risks and benefits of lung cancer screening before making the decision to get screened. If you don’t have a doctor, contact your insurance company to find out if you can schedule an in-person or virtual visit with a doctor to talk about whether screening is right for you.
The LDCT scan should be done in a facility that has the right type of CT scan machine and experience in screening people for lung cancer. Some facilities require a doctor’s order, and most require appointments to get screened. Your doctor and insurance company can help you find facilities where you can go for an LDCT scan.
If you decide to get an LDCT scan for lung cancer screening and don’t have a doctor, try contacting:
- A local hospital or medical clinic
- Your local health department
- Mobile lung cancer screening programs that advertise in your area
Learn more about the American Cancer Society guidelines for lung cancer screening in Can Lung Cancer Be Found Early?
Prostate cancer screening is done using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test with or without a rectal exam. If your PSA level is high, you might need further tests to look for prostate cancer. The chance of having prostate cancer goes up as the PSA level goes up.
It’s important to talk to a doctor or health care provider about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening before making the decision to get screened. If you don’t have a doctor, contact your insurance company to find out if you can schedule an in-person or virtual visit with a doctor to talk about whether screening is right for you. Your insurance company can also help you find events or facilities where you can get a PSA test.
If you choose to get screened for prostate cancer and don’t have a doctor, try contacting:
- A local hospital or medical clinic
- Your local health department
- Community health fairs and events that might advertise PSA screening
Learn more about prostate cancer screening guidelines in the American Cancer Society Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Early Detection.
Know Your Cancer Risk
Take the ACS CancerRisk360™ assessment to learn more about what you can change to improve your health. By taking 5 minutes to answer a few questions, we will give you a personalized roadmap of actions with helpful resources you can use to lower your risk of cancer.
- Written by
- References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
American Medical Association. Doctor Finder: Find a Doctor. Accessed at https://find-doctor.ama-assn.org/ on November 5, 2025.
NIH National Institute on Aging. How to Choose a Doctor You Can Talk To. 2020. Accessed at https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-choose-doctor-you-can-talk on November 5, 2025.
National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus. Choosing a Primary Care Provider. 2023. Accessed at https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001939.htm on November 5, 2025.
US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. MyHealthFinder: Find and Access Preventive Services. 2025. Accessed at https://odphp.health.gov/myhealthfinder/doctor-visits/doctor-visits/find-and-access-preventive-services on November 5, 2025.
US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. MyHealthFinder: Choosing a Doctor: Quick Tips. 2024. Accessed at https://odphp.health.gov/myhealthfinder/doctor-visits/regular-checkups/choosing-doctor-quick-tips on November 5, 2025.
Last Revised: December 4, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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