I thought this image from GP notebook beautifully summarises all the available NHS screening services based on age.
Screening is a way of looking for concerning abnormalities in healthy people to catch conditions early.
The NHS offers 3 cancer screening services which is essential for everyone eligible to do, to detect the early stages of cancer, before symptoms occur, so that early treatment can be provided. We have provided this guide to make sure you and your loved ones, are on top of your NHS cancer screening.
The 3 cancer screening services available on the NHS are:
Breast cancer screening-This is offered to all women over the age of 50 every 3 years. This will be offered directly by your local breast screening service. This involves a mammogram (an Xray of the breasts) and the radiologist will look for abnormal growths in the breast tissue that is not easily felt. If you are over the age of 50 and haven’t been offered a mammogram in the last 3 years, please contact your GP.
Cervical screening-this is offered to all women over the age of 25 every 3 years, up to the age of 50, and then 5-yearly up to 65 years of age. It looks at the cells at the neck of the womb and detects early ‘pre-cancerous changes’, allowing monitoring/treatment to be provided to prevent progression towards cancer.
Bowel screening- Men and women aged 60 to 74 are offered a bowel-screening home test kit every 2 years. This involves taking a small stool sample into a bottle and posting it back. The test looks for a specific type of blood cell in your stool, which helps identify if you have any polyps (pre-cancerous growths) in your colon. If you're 75 or over, you will not routinely receive a home test kit but can ask for a kit every 2 years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
Screening saves lives.
Measure Health is your North London Cancer Screening Service