WHAT IS SCREENING AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
(THE INFORMATION BELOW HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM WWW.NHS.CO.UK and WHO.INT)
Screening is a way of identifying apparently healthy people who may have an increased risk of a particular condition. The NHS offers a range of screening tests to different sections of the population. The aim is to offer screening to the people who are most likely to benefit from it.
Early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment. There are two major components of early detection of cancer: education to promote early diagnosis and screening.
TYPES OF SCREENING OFFERED
Cervical screening
Cervical Screening is offered to women aged 25 to 64 to check the health of cells in the cervix. It is offered every 3 years for those aged 26 to 49, and every 5 years from the ages of 50 to 64.
It is not actually a test for cancer but a test to help prevent cancer.
Please click on the links for information about cervical screening, why it is important, how a cervical screening test is carried out and how you get your results and what they mean; Cervical screening.
Breast screening
Breast Screening is offered to women aged 50 to 70 to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women over 70 can self-refer; Find your local breast screening unit
About 1 in 8 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 aims to find breast cancers early. It uses an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they’re too small to see or feel.
But there are some risks of breast cancer screening that you should be aware of.
Please click on the link for more information about benefits and risks, what happens at your appointment and how you get your results and what they mean; Breast screening
Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer screening involves having tests to check if you have or are at risk of bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer is a common type of cancer in both men and women. About 1 in 20 people will get it during their lifetime.
Screening can help detect bowel cancer at an early stage, when it’s easier to treat. It can also be used to help check for and remove small growths in the bowel called polyps, which can turn into cancer over time.
Please click on the links below for more information about the types of screening offered, what they involve and how you receive your results and what they mean.
There are 2 types of screening for bowel cancer.
A home testing kit is offered to men and women aged 60 to 74.
Bowel scope screening uses a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end to look at the large bowel. It is offered to men and women at the age of 55 in some parts of England.
SUPPORT RESOURCES:
· Click here for a list of charity support lines for people living with cancer; https://www.eastlondonhcp.nhs.uk/downloads/aboutus/North%20East%20London%20Cancer%20Alliance/Cancer-charity-support-lines-PDF-Jan-2021.pdf
· Click here to access information about screening for patients with learning disabilities; https://www.barnetmencap.org.uk/cancerscreeningpack/
· Click here for Macmillan Cancer Support – information for anyone affected by cancer; https://www.eastlondonhcp.nhs.uk/downloads/aboutus/North%20East%20London%20Cancer%20Alliance/Macmillan%20info%20support%20services%20for%20patients.pdf
· Animated breast screening video – helps overcome fears of attending screening appointments and explains the importance of attending; https://youtu.be/CkMOOA0RTl4
· Cancer won’t wait for Covid – explains how important it is to get symptoms checked straight away; https://youtu.be/HxozV0ruXoI
· Keeping cancer services safe – explains all the measures in place to protect patients from Covid whilst attending cancer services; https://youtu.be/ZBayrSewju4
· Stories of patients attending bowel screening during the pandemic; https://www.stmarksbowelscreen.co.uk/participants-stories
· Resources to support patients with lymphoedema: https://www.eastlondonhcp.nhs.uk/aboutus/support-for-patients.htm
