Breast Screening
All women who are aged between 50 and 71 years of age will be routinely invited for free breast screening every three years. The programme is very successful and currently saves around 1,400 lives per year.
Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage, often before there are any symptoms. To do this, an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment.
When women are invited for their mammogram depends on which GP they are registered with, not when their birthday is. The screening office runs a rolling programme which invites women by area. The requirement is that all women will receive their first invitation before their 53rd birthday, but ideally when they are 50.
If you have any changes in your breast or symptoms that are causing you concern, please contact the practice, you do not need to wait to be contacted by the breast screening programme.
Please see the links below for more information on the Breast Screening Programme:
Breast Screening NHS
Breast Screening Leaflet
Cervical Screening
All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 should be invited by letter for cervical screening (a smear test) those aged 25 to 49 will be invited every 3 years and those aged 50 to 64 will be invited every 5 years.
This is not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer. During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix. The sample is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. These are called "high-risk" types of HPV. If these types of HPV are not found, you do not need any further tests. If these types of HPV are found, the sample is then checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. These can then be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer. You'll get your results by letter, usually in about 2 weeks.
Please call the practice to book a smear test, if you are overdue or not sure when your next smear test is due, please contact us to discuss further. A Smear test can now also be booked online via your online access provider.
Please see the links below for more information on the Cervical Screening Programme:
Cervical Screening NHS
Cervical Screening Leaflet
Bowel Screening
Bowel cancer screening is offered every 2 years to men and women aged 60 to 74. People older than this can ask for a screening kit every 2 years by calling the free helpline on 0800 707 60 60. Bowel cancer is the 4th most common type of cancer. Screening can help find it at an early stage when it's easier to treat.
You use a home test kit, called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT), to collect a small sample of poo and send it to a lab. This is checked for tiny amounts of blood. Blood can be a sign of polyps or bowel cancer. Polyps are growths in the bowel. They are not cancer but may turn into cancer over time.
If you have symptoms of bowel cancer at any age, even if you have recently completed an NHS bowel cancer screening test kit – do not wait to have a screening test. Please contact the practice to book an appointment.
Please see the links below for more information on the Bowel Screening Programme:
Bowel Screening NHS
Bowel Screening Leaflet
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening (AAA)
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is a way of checking if there's a bulge or swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from your heart down through your tummy. Screening for AAA is offered to men during the year they turn 65. Men aged 65 or over are most at risk of getting AAAs. Screening can help spot swelling in the aorta early on when it can usually be treated.
If you're a man over 65 and have not been screened before, you can ask for a test by contacting NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme - Hampshire on 02381 206279.
Please see the links below for more information on the AAA Screening Programme:
AAA Screening NHS
AAA Screening Leaflet