Cancer screening

Advice about cancer screening

At certain times in your life, you will be asked to take part in cancer screening tests.

They can help detect the disease before symptoms have a chance to develop and when treatment is more likely to be successful.

If the tests come back clear, this can give you peace of mind.

There are three types of screening for adults in England, and they save thousands of lives each year.

Make sure you are registered with a GP to ensure you are invited for cancer screening.

What is bowel screening?

The aim of bowel screening is to detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms and when treatment is more effective.

Everyone aged 60 to 74 years who is registered with a GP and lives in England is automatically sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit every 2 years.

The programme is expanding so that everyone aged 50 to 59 years will also be eligible for screening. This is happening gradually over 4 years and started in April 2021 with 56-year-olds. The programme has now started to include 58-year-olds, so you may get a test before you're 60.

Make sure your GP practice has your correct address, so your kit is posted to the right place.

If you're 75 or over, you can still ask for a kit every 2 years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.

If you're worried about a family history of bowel cancer or have any symptoms, speak to a GP for advice.

Watch these videos to find out how having a bowel screening helped Bradford residents Ralph, Mushtaq and Molly.

Visit the NHS website bowel cancer page for more information.

What is breast screening?

The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every three years for all women aged 50 to 71.

You will be invited to a special clinic or mobile breast screening unit for a mammogram (X-ray of the breast). This is then studied to look for any abnormalities. The results will be sent to you and your GP.

For further advice and guidance on breast cancer screening visit the NHS website breast cancer screening page.

Should I also be checking my breasts?

Anyone can get breast cancer. It is important to check your breasts / chest regularly (for example every month). If you know how your breasts / chest normally look and feel it can be easier to report any changes early to your GP. Visit the NHS website breast cancer page to find out more.

What is cervical screening?

If you are a woman aged between 25 and 49, you will be invited for cervical screening every 3 years. If you’re aged between 50 and 64, you are invited every 5 years.

During the screening, a small sample of cells is taken from the cervix and checked for abnormalities. This test is sometimes called a smear test.

It's possible for women of all ages to develop cervical cancer, although the condition mainly affects women aged 30 to 45.

Watch these videos to find out why having a cervical screening helped Bradford residents Sue, Parveen, Tanya and Laura.

Visit the NHS website for further advice and guidance.