NHS Cancer Screening Programmes

Cervical Screening

Who?

Women aged 25-64.

Why?

Cervical cancer is the 11th most common cancer among women in the UK, and the most common cancer in women under 35. Cervical screening saves approximately 4,500 lives per year in England. Cervical screening prevents up to 3,900 cases of cervical cancer per year in the UK.*

How often?

Every 3 years (Every 5 years after age 50).

Where?

At GP Practice.

What happens if a smear test is abnormal?

The woman will be invited for a colposcopy at Loughborough Hospital where the consultant looks at the cervix with a special microscope.

Breast Screening Programme

Who?

Women aged 50-70 receive an automatic invitation every 3 years. Women over 70 still have the right to screening but you must ask by phoning or writing to the local breast screening unit.

Telephone:

0116 2583644

Address:

Glenfield Breast Care Centre
Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road
Groby Road
Leicester
LE3 9QP

Why?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Around 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Of these about 350 are men.

Going for breast screening will not prevent breast cancer from developing, but it may find a breast cancer sooner – before it can be felt. Earlier detection, increased knowledge and understanding of the biology of breast cancer and better treatments mean that survival rates after a diagnosis of breast cancer are improving. More than 8 out of 10 people survive breast cancer beyond five years. More than three quarters of people survive it beyond 10 years. It’s thought that around 550,000 people are alive in the UK who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer **

Where?

At the Mobile Breast Screening unit in Loughborough, or at the breast clinic at Glenfield Hospital.

How?

A mammogram is a special x-ray of the breast.

What happens if the result is abnormal?

Abnormal results are referred to the breast clinic at Glenfield Hospital for further tests such as an Ultrasound scan or a biopsy.

Bowel Cancer Screening

Who?

Men and women aged 60-69. If you have any questions regarding Bowel Cancer Screening, or you are over 70 and would like to request a screening kit, you can telephone the free helpline on 0800 707 6060.

Why?

About one in 20 people in the UK will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime. It is the third most common cancer in the UK, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, with over 16,000 people dying from it each year.

Regular bowel cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16 per cent.^***

When?

Every 2 years.

Where?

At home!

How?

By collecting stool samples which are then posted and analysed.

What if the result is abnormal?

You will be referred to the local hospital for a camera test on the bowel called a ‘Colonoscopy’.

Prostate Cancer Risk Management

At present there is NO national screening test for prostate cancer. However, a man may have a PSA blood test after discussing the pro’s and con’s with a GP.

What is a PSA blood test?

The PSA test is a blood test that measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is a substance made by the prostate gland, which naturally leaks out into the blood stream. A raised PSA can be an early indication of prostate cancer. However, other conditions which are not cancer (e.g. enlargement of the prostate, prostatitis, and urinary infection) can also cause a rise in PSA.

The PSA test is currently the best method of identifying localised prostate cancer. There are two further recognised methods; digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS).****

For further information regarding Cancer Screening please visit:

WWW.CANCERSCREENING.NHS.UK

Other Cancer information websites:

WWW.MACMILLAN.ORG.UK – This website contains lots of information regarding all types of cancer, including support for carers and details on the helpline that patients and their families can call.

WWW.HEALTHTALKONLINE.ORG – Vast resource of patients talking about their own experiences with cancer and other serious illnesses.

References

* http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/how-common-cervical-cancer.html

** https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-information/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-facts

*** http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/why-screen-for-bowel-cancer.html

**** http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/prostate/faq13.html