Bowel Cancer
Bowel cancer screening checks for blood in a stool sample, using a kit sent to your home. Everyone from age 60 to 74 is invited to send in a sample once every 2 years. If you're 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every 2 years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
Breast Cancer
All women aged 50 to 71 are contacted once every 3 years for X-ray screening for breast cancer. If you think you have been missed, or if you are aged over 71 and would like to continue with screening, please call 02476 96 7200. If you find a lump in your breast or have changes to the skin of your nipple, please book a face-to-face appointment with a GP.
Cervical Cancer
“Smear tests” are carried out by nurses at the surgery on behalf of the NHS screening service, which invites women aged 25 to 49 once every 3 years, and women aged 50 to 64 once every 5 years. If you think you have been missed, please contact the surgery – though we cannot carry out any screening outside of the national programme.
Lung Cancer
People aged 55 to 75 who have smoked or continue to do so may benefit from screening for lung cancer. Those eligible are contacted by the screening team for a telephone consultation and, if found to be at increased risk of lung cancer, are then offered a CT scan. If you have not received an invitation for a lung health check but believe you are eligible, please contact the Booking Team on 024 75 268666.
Prostate Cancer
There is no national screening programme for prostate cancer, as unfortunately the only available test isn’t very reliable in people who don’t have symptoms. If you do have symptoms of prostate enlargement (such as a weak stream, dribbling or waking more often at night to wee) please request a blood test. If you have blood in your urine, please see your GP urgently. Black men may develop prostate cancer from age 40, other men from age 50, but the test is not usually beneficial after age 85.