Frequently Asked Questions
Cancer Screen Iowa is an educational tool based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have symptoms or concerns, contact a clinician.
About Cancer Screen Iowa
What is Cancer Screen Iowa?
Cancer Screen Iowa is a free tool that helps you stay on top of cancer screenings recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Based on the information you provide (such as age and other relevant factors), we generate a personalized checklist and send you a once-a-year reminder around your birthday to review what’s due.
Is this medical advice?
No. Cancer Screen Iowa is an educational tool. It does not replace professional medical advice. Your healthcare provider can help you decide which screenings are right for you.
Who are the USPSTF?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is an independent panel of national experts in disease prevention and evidence-based medicine. They review scientific evidence and publish recommendations for preventive services, including cancer screenings.
Which cancers does Cancer Screen Iowa cover?
Cancer Screen Iowa currently focuses on screening recommendations with strong USPSTF support, including breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, and prostate cancer. We built the platform to support adding screening types as guidelines evolve.
What if USPSTF guidelines change?
We periodically review USPSTF updates and update our rules when recommendations change. Your checklist shows the guideline version used to generate your recommendations. If we update the rules, your checklist will reflect the change the next time it refreshes.
Getting Started
Do I need to create an account to use Cancer Screen Iowa?
You can complete the questionnaire and view your checklist without creating an account. If you want to save your checklist and receive annual birthday reminders, you’ll create an account.
What information do I need to provide to get started?
To generate a personalized checklist, we ask for your birthdate and a small number of screening-relevant questions. Depending on the screening type, this may include information such as sex at birth (for guideline matching), smoking history, and certain health history items that affect eligibility. We only ask for what we need to generate your checklist and reminders.
How do I create an account?
After viewing your checklist, you can enter your email address to create an account. You’ll verify your email and set a password so you can sign in and manage your reminders. If you were invited by an employer or a friend, your invitation link will guide you through the same steps.
Your Screening Checklist
How are my screening recommendations determined?
Your checklist is generated from the information you provide (for example, age and other eligibility factors) and the current USPSTF recommendations. We show only screenings where you appear to meet the general eligibility criteria.
Why am I not seeing a particular screening on my checklist?
If a screening isn’t shown, you likely don’t meet the general eligibility criteria based on your profile. For example, lung cancer screening eligibility depends on age and smoking history. If something looks off, you can update your profile in Settings and refresh your checklist.
How do I update my screening status?
Each screening card includes a status selector. You can mark an item as Planned, Scheduled, or Completed. If you’ve scheduled an appointment or completed a screening, you can optionally record a date for your own tracking.
Can I update my health information after signing up?
Yes. You can update relevant profile information (such as smoking history or other eligibility factors) from Settings. Updates are reflected the next time your checklist refreshes.
Reminders
How often will I receive reminder emails?
We send one reminder email per year around your birthday by default, and quarterly reminders for past-due screenings. You can adjust reminder timing preferences or turn reminders off in Settings.
How do I unsubscribe from emails?
Every email includes an unsubscribe link. Clicking it will opt you out immediately. You can also manage email preferences from Settings.
Privacy, Security, and Data
What data do you collect and how is it used?
We collect the minimum information needed to generate your checklist and send your reminders. This may include your email, birthdate, and any eligibility-related questions you choose to answer. We use this information to generate screening recommendations and provide reminders and related product features. We do not sell personal data.
Do you use my data for advertising?
No. Cancer Screen Iowa is ad-free. We may display clearly labeled sponsor offers that are relevant to screening steps or support services. These offers are not based on behavioral tracking, and we do not sell personal data.
Is my data secure?
We use industry-standard security practices, including encrypted connections (HTTPS) and access controls. We also use security measures designed to protect sensitive information and limit internal access to what’s necessary.
Can I delete my account and data?
Yes. You can request account deletion from Settings. We delete or de-identify your account data promptly, subject to limited retention for security, fraud prevention, and legal compliance.
Care Circle
What is a Care Circle?
A Care Circle is a private group you can create to stay connected with family members or friends around screening reminders and progress. Care Circle members control what, if anything, they share.
What can a Care Circle owner see about me?
Only what you choose to share. When you join a Care Circle, you select a sharing level (for example: nothing, status only, or status with dates). You can change your sharing level, leave a Care Circle, or revoke sharing at any time.
Can a Care Circle owner see my specific health data or screening results?
No. Care Circle sharing is designed to show high-level progress only. It does not share your detailed questionnaire responses or medical results.
Employers
Does Cancer Screen Iowa offer an employer program?
Yes. Employers can offer Cancer Screen Iowa as a wellness benefit. Employers can upload a roster, send consent-first invitations, and view aggregate engagement metrics.
Can my employer see my screening data?
No. Employers only see aggregate, anonymized engagement metrics such as enrollment and overall participation. Your individual health information and screening history are not shared with your employer.
My employer added me. Do I have to participate?
No. Participation is your choice. You can decline the invitation or opt out. Your employer may see that you opted out, but they do not receive any individual health information.
If I sign up through my employer, is my account different?
Your account remains yours. You have the same checklist and features as any individual user. The only difference is that your enrollment status may be counted in your employer’s aggregate program metrics.
Technical & Support
Can I use Cancer Screen Iowa on my phone?
Yes. Cancer Screen Iowa is optimized for both desktop and mobile browsers.
Can I invite friends and family?
Yes. You can invite friends and family from the Invite page. Invitations are consent-first—people choose whether to join.
I forgot my password. How do I reset it?
Go to the Sign In page and select “Forgot Password.” We’ll email you a reset link. If you don’t see it, check spam/junk or contact us for help.
How do I contact the Cancer Screen Iowa team?
Email us at info@cancerscreeniowa.org