Screening tests for colorectal cancer include a colonoscopy and fecal occult blood test. In a colonoscopy, an instrument is used to examine inside the bowel. The test is harmless and it should be done five years after age 50. The test for fecal occult blood involves taking a stool sample to the lab.

The screening test for prostate cancer is a blood test that can tell if the prostate gland is healthy or not. Your doctor can also tell how the gland feels by doing a rectal exam.

Questions to ask your doctor or nurse:

• Should I be getting a mammogram?
• Do I still need to get a Pap test?
• When should I be screened for colorectal cancer?
• Should I be tested for prostate cancer?

(Adapted from The Pocket Guide to Staying Healthy at 50+, a 2003 U.S. publication of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at www.ahrq.gov).