NHS screening

Screening is a way of finding out if you have a higher chance of having a health problem.

There are a number of NHS adult screening programmes currently offered in England.

These include cancer screening programmes which can help to diagnose cancer, or identify your risk of cancer earlier, and improve the likelihood of successful treatment. You can check your eligibility using the screening checker on Stand up to Cancer.

Screening helps to find health issues in their early stages, making them much easier to manage or prevent from progressing further or treated before they cause significant problems. 

NHS breast screening uses X-rays, called mammograms, to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel.  It is offered to those who are registered with a GP as female and are aged between 50 and 71 years. You will be invited every three years. 

Visit the NHS website for further information on who can have a mammogram and what is involved 

Bowel cancer screening is a simple test you do at home that checks for signs of bowel cancer before symptoms start. It is offered to everyone aged 50 to 74.  

Visit the NHS website for further information on why this screening is offered, how to request a kit and how to complete the at-home 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 is offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64, every five years.  

Visit the NHS website for further information on what is involved.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening is offered to men (or people assigned male at birth) during the year they turn 65.  You will be invited by letter to attend.  

An ultrasound scan is done to check for swelling in the main blood vessel in your tummy (abdomen) called the aorta, which runs from your heart down to your abdomen.  You will only need to have the screening done once, unless an aneurysm is found. 

This means that if a swelling is found early, it can be monitored and treated, if needed, so it's less likely to burst (rupture), which can be life threatening. 

Visit the NHS website for further information on what is involved.

A Liverpool man is urging others to take up the invite of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening when they’re invited.

Read his story.