[9] Several factors are considered to determine whether the benefits outweigh the associated risks and costs of cancer screening.

[17] However, certain barriers affect attendance rates among disadvantaged individuals, such as those on low incomes, those with mental health disorders, and ethnic minorities.

[18] The lower attendance rates are believed to contribute to the earlier mortality of people with mental health disorders.

[19] The documented attendance rate persisted even after accounting for variables, such as marital status and social deprivation.

[19] A study published in 2020 reported that individuals from minority ethnic communities are also less likely to participate cancer screening initiatives.

[20][21] The study showed that British-Pakistani women encountered cultural and language barriers and were not aware that breast cancer screening do not take place in a female-only environment.

[20][21] In the UK, women of South Asian heritage display the lowest likelihood of participating in breast cancer screening.

[20][21] Deprivation has been recognised as an additional factor contributing to the decrease of individuals attending cancer screening.

[23] Screening is done to detect the disease early in asymptomatic women, in an attempt to achieve an earlier diagnosis and lower mortality.

In the US, risk factors for breast cancer like the BRCA gene and age are taken into consideration to decide if a screening test is needed and if so which is best for the person.

In 2022, the European Commission's Scientific Advice Mechanism concluded that women should be screened for breast cancer earlier, starting while in their mid 40s.

However the program currently has a high threshold in which a big proportion of patients with high-risk polyps are missed and not investigated further.

During PSA screening, blood is tested for the protein, prostate-specific antigen, secreted from the prostate gland, levels over 4 ng/mL are indicators for further analysis.

[26] The US Preventative Service Task Force have previously recommended against PSA testing in a systematic manner because of the overdiagnosis risks.

In recent years recommendations like these are being revised, as new methods of screening are advancing, like MRI scanning as a secondary assessment to the PSA test.

[38] The NELSON trial concluded that with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) performed on high-risk populations, there is a significantly lower mortality than with no screening at all.

They also ceased the recommendation of annual screening for individuals who have refrained from smoking the last 15 years and those who have new medical issues that already reduce life expectancy.

[40] Similarly, in March 2022, the European Commission's Scientific Advice Mechanism recommended lung screening for current and ex-smokers, combined with ongoing smoking cessation programs.

The European Society for Medical Oncology recommends regular screening with endoscopic ultrasound and MRI/CT imaging for those at high risk from inherited genetics,[43] in line with other recommendations,[44][45] which may also include CT.[44] For screening, special CT scanning procedures may be used, such as multiphase CT scan.

[46] The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in 2013 found that evidence was insufficient to determine the balance of benefits and harms of screening for oral cancer in adults without symptoms by primary care providers.

[47] The American Dental Association recommends that providers remain alert for signs of cancer during routine examinations.

[49] Full body CT scans is a type of medical imaging utilized to search for cancer in individuals without clear symptoms.