One of the NHS services that can really change your life is early screening for cancer. You can find out all about this service, who can benefit from it and how to organise a test on the NHS website.
Bowel cancer screening
Bowel screening aims to find cancer early or to find changes in your bowel that could lead to cancer. People who can take part receive a bowel cancer testing kit every 2 years through the post. This kit comes from one of the National screening programmes in the UK. You need to be registered with a GP to receive your screening invitations.
Cervical screening (smear test)
Cervical screening, which used to be called a smear test, is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It’s offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.
All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should go for regular cervical screening.
You’ll be invited for screening every 5 years from when you’re 25 to 64 years old. You’ll get your first invitation a few months before you turn 25. You may be invited more regularly if you have HPV. If you’re 65 or older, you’ll only be invited if a recent test was abnormal.
You’ll get an invitation through the NHS App, by text or by letter asking you to make an appointment and telling you how to book.
Breast screening
Breast Screening uses X-rays, called mammograms, to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel.
You’ll automatically get your first invite for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53. Then you’ll be invited every 3 years until you turn 71.
If you’re a trans man, trans woman or are non-binary you may be invited automatically, or you may need to talk to your GP surgery or call the local breast screening service to ask for an appointment.
You need to be registered with a GP surgery to be invited for breast screening.
If you have not been invited for breast screening by the time you are 53 and think you should have been, contact your local breast screening service.