The newest test here is a blood draw that looks for signals from many cancers at once. A signal means more testing, not a diagnosis, and it doesn't replace your regular screenings. The same clinics also offer standard checks like mammograms and stool tests, which your own doctor may already arrange.
The tests, in plain English
Think of a multi-cancer blood test like a smoke alarm for the whole house. When it goes off, you still have to search room by room to find the source, and sometimes there's nothing there.
Multi-cancer blood test
Looks in one blood draw for bits of DNA that cancer cells shed, and guesses where they came from. A signal needs scans and often a biopsy to confirm. No signal does not mean no cancer.
For: Adults wanting an extra layer on top of regular screeningInherited-risk gene panel
Checks genes you were born with that raise cancer risk. It does not look for cancer itself, but it can change when and how often you get screened. Talking to a genetic counselor before and after is normal.
For: Anyone with cancer in close family, especially at a young ageMammogram
An X-ray of the breast that finds cancer before it can be felt. If you have dense breasts, ask about extra imaging.
For: Women 40 to 74, every other yearAt-home stool test
A kit you mail back that checks for hidden blood or DNA changes linked to colon cancer. A positive result means a colonoscopy next.
For: Adults 45 to 75Skin check
A doctor looks over your skin for unusual or changing spots. Experts say there is not enough evidence yet that routine checks help people without symptoms.
For: People with many moles or skin cancer in the familyCancer in Houston, by the numbers
The rate of past cancer diagnoses in Houston is lower than the national rate. About 1 in 18 adults in Houston have ever been diagnosed with cancer, other than common skin cancers, compared with about 1 in 13 nationally. That adds up to roughly 300,000 adults across five counties.
CDC estimates. PLACES figures are modelled from a national health survey, not counted from medical records, so read them as estimates.
See how the five counties compare
| County | Cancer (other than skin cancer) | Colorectal screening up to date (ages 45 to 75) | Mammogram in the past 2 years (women 50 to 74) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 5.2% | 54.7% | 73.4% |
| Fort Bend | 5.5% | 57.3% | 77.5% |
| Montgomery | 7.1% | 60.8% | 79.4% |
| Brazoria | 6.2% | 60.4% | 73.6% |
| Galveston | 7.3% | 61.7% | 74.7% |
| Houston | 5.6% | 56.3% | 74.6% |
| United States | 7.8% | 63.8% | 76.1% |
Source: CDC PLACES, 2022 and 2023 county estimates. Houston = Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and Galveston counties, weighted by adult population.
longevityclinicshub.comYour regular doctor can tell you which standard screenings are due for your age. Those come first, and the newer tests above are extras, not replacements.
