Patient Story: More than half a million people die of cancer each year in the U.S., so it's no wonder we want to do what we can to catch and treat cancer early. For some cancers, we have preventive cancer screenings that are readily available. But who should be screened? Rose Arp has no cancer history, but wants to know from the experts what screenings she should be getting as she turns 50 years old. Myth or Medicine: Will a yearly mammogram cause breast or thyroid cancer? Second Opinion 5: Five greatest risk factors for cancer.