Cancer
As a Primary Care Network, we are keen to promote participation in cancer screening programmes which help identify cancers early. Identifying cancer early is really important as it improves treatment options and is more likely to be long-term successful.
We also encourage those with worrying symptoms to seek medical attention promptly to enable early referral.
BREAST SCREENING
- Women aged 50-70 are invited every 3 years
- Mammogram in mobile screening unit
- Results by letter
- Those over 70 can request a test every three years by phoning
There is more information on breast cancer screening on the Cancer Research UK website.
The NHS website also has a page on breast cancer screening with lots of useful information.
CERVICAL SCREENING
- Women aged 25-49 every 3 years
- Women aged 50-64 every 5 years
- Invite by post
- Smear test in GP surgery
- Results by letter
Cervical screening is when a sample of cells is taken from the cervix for analysis. A doctor or nurse inserts an instrument (a speculum) to open the woman’s vagina and uses a spatula to sweep around the cervix. Most women consider the procedure to be only mildly uncomfortable.
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in a woman’s cervix (the neck of the womb).
All women between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a cervical screening test every three to five years. The programme is run by Primary Care Support England and they will write to patients directly asking them to contact the surgery when they are due for screening. The result will be sent directly to you and usually within 1-2 weeks.
There is more information on cervical cancer screening on the Cancer Research UK website.
Further information can be found here: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/.
The NHS website also has a page on cervical cancer screening with lots of useful information including this cartoon video demonstrating the procedure.
For information in different languages, please see below;
BOWEL CANCER SCREENING
- Ages 60-74
- The test kit comes by post, returned by post
- Results by letter
- Those 75 and above can request a kit every two years by phoning 0800 7076060
Bowel cancer screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage (in people with no symptoms) when treatment is more likely to be effective. The screening test detects tiny amounts of blood, which you cannot normally see, in your bowel motions. You can carry out the test in the privacy of your own home and the kit provides a simple way for you to collect a small sample of a bowel motion. You may think that doing the test sounds a bit embarrassing or unpleasant, but it will only take a few minutes and it is an effective way to detect bowel cancer early.
Screening is offered every two years to all men and women aged 60 to 74. The programme is run by the Southern Hub of the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. When you are due for screening, a test kit will be sent out along with step-by-step instructions for completing the test at home and sending the samples to the hub laboratory. The test will then be processed and the results sent back to you within two weeks. People aged 75 or over can request a screening kit by calling the Freephone helpline 0800 707 6060.
There is more information on bowel cancer screening on the Cancer Research UK website including a video on how to undertake the test. Bowel Cancer UK are the leading bowel cancer cancer charity and you can find their informative website here.
The NHS website also has a page on bowel cancer screening with lots of useful information.
PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING
Please see information regarding Prostate Cancer Screening here.
Would you like a free risk check assessment? Please visit the official prostate cancer UK site here.