Cancer Screening in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Cancer screening is a key part of staying healthy for adults in Grand Rapids and across West Michigan. With trusted health systems like Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health, residents have strong local options for early cancer detection and follow-up care.

Cold Michigan winters, less sun exposure, and lifestyle factors can all influence cancer risk. Regular screening helps find cancer early—often before symptoms appear—when treatment is most effective.

What Is Cancer Screening?

Cancer screening looks for early signs of cancer or changes that may lead to cancer in people who do not have symptoms. Screening recommendations are based on:

  • Age
  • Sex / gender
  • Family history
  • Personal risk factors (such as smoking, obesity, or certain genetic mutations)

Screening does not diagnose cancer. If a screening test is abnormal, your doctor will order further tests—such as imaging, biopsies, or blood tests—to confirm whether cancer is present.

Types of Cancer Screening Approaches

In Grand Rapids and throughout Michigan, healthcare providers use three main approaches to cancer screening:

1. Population-Based Screening

An entire group of people in a certain age range or risk category is invited to be screened.

Examples:

  • Breast cancer screening (mammograms) for women and some trans and gender-diverse people, typically ages 40–74
  • Colorectal (bowel) cancer screening for adults starting at age 45
  • Cervical cancer screening for women and anyone with a cervix, typically ages 21–65

These screenings are often recommended and coordinated through large health systems like Corewell Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids and may be supported by public health agencies such as the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health.

2. Targeted Risk Screening

Screening focuses on people with a higher-than-average risk for certain cancers.

Examples:

  • Genetic testing for people with a strong family history of breast, ovarian, or colon cancer
  • Earlier or more frequent colonoscopies for people with inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of colorectal cancer
  • Low-dose CT scans for lung cancer in adults with a heavy smoking history

If you have a strong family history of cancer, your primary care provider in Grand Rapids can refer you to genetics or high-risk cancer clinics offered through local systems such as Corewell Health or Metro Health.

3. Opportunistic Screening

Screening is offered when a person visits a doctor for another reason.

Examples:

  • Your primary care provider orders a PSA blood test for prostate cancer risk while you’re in for a blood pressure check.
  • Your OB/GYN recommends a Pap test or HPV test during an annual visit.
  • Your doctor offers a FIT stool test for colon cancer screening during a routine physical.

This type of screening is very common in primary care practices across Grand Rapids, including family medicine and internal medicine clinics.

When Do We Use Population-Based Cancer Screening?

Population-based screening programs are only recommended when certain conditions are met:

  • The cancer is common in the population.
  • It causes significant illness (morbidity) and death (mortality).
  • There is a reliable test that can detect early-stage cancer or pre-cancerous changes.
  • There is effective treatment, especially when cancer is found early.
  • The test is safe, affordable, and acceptable to most people.
  • The program (including follow-up testing and treatment) is available to most of the target population.
  • The benefits outweigh the risks (such as false positives, false negatives, or complications).
  • It is cost-effective for the healthcare system.

Because of these strict standards, population-based screening is routinely recommended for breast, cervical, and colorectal (bowel) cancer.

Major Cancer Screening Programs in the U.S. (Available in Grand Rapids)

In the United States, national guidelines support population-based screening for several cancers. These guidelines are followed by local health systems in Grand Rapids and across Michigan.

Breast Cancer Screening in Grand Rapids

Goal: Reduce deaths from breast cancer through early detection.

Who should be screened?

  • Most women and some trans and gender-diverse people should begin regular mammograms at age 40–45.
  • From 50 to 74, mammograms are typically recommended every 1–2 years, depending on your risk and doctor’s advice.
  • People with higher risk (family history, known genetic mutations like BRCA1/2, prior chest radiation) may need to start earlier or have additional imaging like MRI.

Where to get a mammogram in Grand Rapids:

  • Corewell Health breast imaging centers
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids breast care services
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health imaging centers
  • Mercy Health breast imaging locations

The Kent County Health Department and local community clinics may also help connect uninsured or underinsured residents to low-cost or free mammography programs.

Colorectal (Bowel) Cancer Screening in Grand Rapids

Goal: Find and remove pre-cancerous polyps and detect colorectal cancer early.

Who should be screened?

  • Most adults should begin screening at age 45.
  • Screening continues through age 75 for most people, and may continue beyond that based on health and life expectancy.

Common screening options:

  • Colonoscopy (every 10 years if normal)
  • Stool-based tests such as FIT or FIT-DNA (often done yearly or every 3 years, depending on the test)
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy or CT colonography in certain cases

In Grand Rapids, colorectal screening is widely available through:

  • Corewell Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids gastroenterology and endoscopy centers
  • Metro Health and Mercy Health endoscopy units
  • Primary care offices that can provide at-home stool test kits

Ask your doctor which option fits your health, risk level, and insurance coverage.

Cervical Cancer Screening in Grand Rapids

Goal: Prevent cervical cancer by detecting pre-cancerous cell changes and early-stage cancer.

Who should be screened?

  • Ages 21–29: Pap test (cytology) every 3 years
  • Ages 30–65:
    • Primary HPV testing every 5 years, or
    • Co-testing (HPV + Pap) every 5 years, or
    • Pap test alone every 3 years
  • People over 65 may be able to stop screening if they have had consistently normal results and no high-risk history.

Who needs screening?

  • Women and anyone with a cervix who has ever been sexually active, including trans men and non-binary people with a cervix.

Where to get cervical screening in Grand Rapids:

  • OB/GYN offices and women’s health clinics across Grand Rapids
  • Family medicine and internal medicine practices
  • Community health centers and clinics connected to Grand Rapids Public Health or the Kent County Health Department

Many clinics offer self-collection HPV testing options or more private settings to make screening more comfortable.

Challenges and Risks of Cancer Screening

Cancer screening has significantly reduced illness and death from several cancers in the United States. For example, since organized cervical screening programs began in the early 1990s, cervical cancer deaths have dropped dramatically.

However, screening is not perfect and can have downsides.

Acceptability and Emotional Barriers

Some people in Grand Rapids may avoid screening because they find tests:

  • Invasive or uncomfortable (for example, colonoscopies or pelvic exams)
  • Embarrassing (especially for intimate areas)
  • Anxiety-provoking (fear of results or medical procedures)

Ways to make screening easier:

  • Talk openly with your provider about fears or past bad experiences.
  • Ask about sedation options for colonoscopy or self-sampling for cervical screening if available.
  • Bring a trusted friend or family member to appointments for support.
  • Look for clinics that emphasize trauma-informed or gender-affirming care.

Risks of Screening

Even when done correctly, screening tests can have risks:

  • False negatives:
    • The test misses a cancer or pre-cancer.
    • This can delay diagnosis and treatment.
  • False positives:
    • The test suggests cancer when there is none.
    • This can lead to worry and additional tests (such as biopsies, imaging, or repeat procedures).
  • Physical harms:
    • Some tests have small risks (for example, bleeding or bowel perforation with colonoscopy, discomfort with biopsies).
  • Overdiagnosis:
    • Detecting cancers or abnormalities that would never have caused symptoms or shortened life.
    • This can lead to treatment that may not have been strictly necessary.

Because of these risks, it’s important to:

  • Have screening only when you are eligible and due, based on age and risk.
  • Follow your doctor’s recommendations about how often to screen.
  • Discuss benefits and risks of each test with your provider.

Cancer Screening Is for People Without Symptoms

Screening is designed for people who feel well and have no signs or symptoms of cancer.

If you have any worrying symptoms—such as:

  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Persistent pain
  • Unusual bleeding
  • A new lump or mass
  • Changes in bowel or bladder habits
  • Long-lasting cough or hoarseness

you should see a doctor right away, regardless of when your last screening test was. In Grand Rapids, you can start with your:

  • Primary care provider
  • Urgent care center within Corewell, Trinity Health, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Local clinic or community health center

Do not wait for your next scheduled screening if you are worried about symptoms.

Reducing Your Cancer Risk in Grand Rapids

While not all cancers can be prevented, you can lower your risk by combining healthy lifestyle choices with regular screening.

Key Ways to Reduce Cancer Risk

  • Stay up to date with recommended screening tests.
  • Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.
  • Limit alcohol intake.
  • Protect your skin from UV radiation:
    • Even in cloudy West Michigan winters, UV rays can reflect off snow and water from Lake Michigan.
    • Use sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and avoid tanning beds.
  • Stay physically active year-round:
    • Take advantage of indoor gyms, community centers, and winter-friendly activities when it’s cold or icy.
  • Maintain a healthy body weight.
  • Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
  • Stay up to date on vaccinations, such as HPV and hepatitis B, which can prevent certain cancers.

Local resources like the Kent County Health Department and wellness programs through Grand Rapids health systems can help with smoking cessation, nutrition counseling, and physical activity programs.

Where to Get Help and Cancer Screening in Grand Rapids

If you live in Grand Rapids or the surrounding West Michigan area, you have many options for cancer screening and support:

  • Your primary care provider (PCP)

    • Family medicine, internal medicine, or OB/GYN offices can arrange most screening tests.

  • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) – Grand Rapids

    • Breast imaging, colonoscopy, lung cancer screening, cervical screening, and high-risk cancer clinics.

  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids

    • Comprehensive cancer screening, imaging, and specialty care.

  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health

    • Preventive care, colonoscopy, mammography, and oncology services.

  • Mercy Health and affiliated clinics

    • Screening services and cancer care across the Grand Rapids region.

  • Kent County Health Department & Grand Rapids Public Health

    • Information on low-cost or free screening programs, vaccination clinics, and lifestyle support.

If you are uninsured or underinsured, ask any of these organizations about financial assistance, charity care, or community screening events.

Key Points About Cancer Screening in Grand Rapids

  • Early detection of cancer usually improves treatment success and survival.
  • In some cases, screening can prevent cancer altogether by finding and removing pre-cancerous changes.
  • Screening tests do not diagnose cancer—abnormal results need follow-up testing.
  • Population-based screening is mainly used for breast, cervical, and colorectal (bowel) cancer.
  • The benefits of screening must outweigh the risks, and tests must be acceptable, effective, and accessible.
  • Residents of Grand Rapids can access high-quality screening through local health systems and public health resources.

If you’re unsure which cancer screenings you need or when to start, schedule a visit with your doctor or a local clinic in Grand Rapids to review your age, family history, and personal risk and create a screening plan tailored to you.