Cancer Care

There are around 3,200 new cervical cancer cases in the UK every year, that’s nearly 9 every day. 

The NHS cervical screening programme in England is offered to people with a cervix aged from 25 to 64. Routine screening is offered every three years up to 49 years of age and every five years from 50 to 64 years of age.  Depending on the result of the screen, people may be recalled earlier than these routine intervals.

As part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, all samples taken at cervical screening appointments are now being tested for high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the first instance. This is the virus which causes nearly all cervical cancers. Samples that test positive for HPV will then go on to be further analysed with Liquid Based Cytology to detect cell abnormalities.  The new test will identify more people at risk of cervical cancer earlier and could prevent around 600 additional cancers a year.

HPV is a very common virus which effects around 8 in 10 people; it is nothing to be embarrassed about, and in many cases, your immune system will naturally get rid of HPV.

For more information on the cervical screening programme, please visit the NHS cervical screening pages

Received your invitation for Cervical Screening?

Please, don’t ignore it. It takes just a few minutes and could save your life!

About 1 in 7 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 uses an Xray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they’re too small to see or feel.

Breast screening is offered to women aged 50 to their 71st birthday in England. You’ll first be invited for screening within three years of your 50th birthday.

If you are 71 or over, you will stop receiving screening invitations. You can still have screening once you are 71 or over if you want to and can arrange an appointment by contacting your local screening unit.

If you’re worried about breast cancer symptoms do not wait to be offered screening, see your GP. 

Bowel cancer is the 4th most common type of cancer. Screening can help prevent bowel cancer or find it at an early stage, when it’s easier to treat.

Bowel cancer survival is improving and has more than doubled in the last 40 years in the UK. If diagnosed early, more than 90% of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully.

Screening programmes test to see if people show any early signs of cancer. By detecting bowel cancer at an early stage, treatment has a better chance of working.

As part of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, men and women aged 60-74 are sent a home testing kit every two years to collect a small sample of poo to be checked for tiny amounts of blood which could be caused by cancer.

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, but early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes. Screening helps identify lung cancer at an earlier stage when it is more treatable—potentially saving lives.

If you are eligible, you will receive an invitation by post to attend a Lung Health Check. This letter will include full details on how to respond and give your consent to take part in the programme.

If you choose to participate, your first step will be a telephone consultation with a specialist nurse. During this call, the nurse will ask a series of questions to assess your risk of developing lung disease. They will consider factors such as your age, lifestyle, medical history, and family background.

If you are found to be at increased risk, you will be invited for a low-dose CT scan, which provides a detailed image of your lungs. This scan can help detect early signs of lung cancer. If invited, you will need to attend your scan appointment in person.

Benefits of Lung Cancer Screening

• Detects lung cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful
• Reduces the risk of being diagnosed at an advanced stage
• May allow for less invasive treatment options

Who is Eligible for Screening?

You may be invited if you:

• Are aged 55 to 74
• Are a current smoker or former smoker
• Are registered with a GP in Buckinghamshire

If you have not been invited for a lung health check but think you should have been or for more information, please see the following website: Targeted Lung Cancer screening – Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.