NHS Cancer Screening Programmes

The NHS offers routine screening for some of the most common cancers. Screening detects problems early, sometimes before they develop into cancer. Screening saves lives and we strongly recommend that patients accept invitations to screening appointments.

Breast Screening

  • About 1 in 7 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. If it’s detected early, treatment is more successful and there’s a good chance of recovery.

    Breast screening uses an x-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they’re too small to see or feel.

  • Anyone registered with a GP as female will be invited for NHS breast screening every 3 years between the ages of 50 and 71.

  • For more information, click here.

  • A lung health check can spot problems such as cancer and other respiratory issues early, often before you notice any symptoms.

    There are two main stages to a lung health check. The first involves a simple and quick telephone assessment with a respiratory nurse from Royal Brompton Hospital. They will ask you a series of questions about your smoking history, lifestyle and current health and wellbeing specially designed to assess your risk of developing lung cancer.

    Depending on the results, you may then be offered an in-person appointment for a low dose CT scan, which produces a detailed image of your lungs.

  • Currently, lung health checks are only available in some parts of England, but they will be available everywhere by 2029

    To be eligible for a lung health check, you must be:

    • Aged 55-74

    • A current or former smoker

    • live in an area and be registered with a GP where lung health checks are currently offered

  • For more information, click here.

Cervical Screening

  • As part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, all samples taken at cervical screening appointments are now being tested for high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the first instance. This is the virus which causes nearly all cervical cancers.

    HPV is a very common virus which effects around 8 in 10 people,and in many cases, your immune system will naturally get rid of HPV.

  • Women are invited for a smear from the age of 25.

    • From 25-49 years -screening is every 3 years.

    • From 50-64 - screening is every 5 years.

    • After the age of 65 -Only women who have not been screened since 50 or have had abnormal results, require screening.

  • For more information, click here.

Lung Check

  • Bowel cancer screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage before symptoms have a chance to develop. It reduces death from bowel cancer

  • Everyone aged 50 to 74 is offered a bowel cancer screening home test kit every 2 years.

  • For more information, click here.

Bowel