What is cancer screening?
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We know it’s a worrying time for people with cancer, we have information to help. If you have symptoms of cancer contact your doctor.
There are 3 national screening programmes in the UK:
You will only be invited for screening if you are registered with a GP. If you aren’t registered, you can find a local GP on the NHS website.
Cancer screening isn’t perfect. It has both possible benefits (pros) and risks (cons). That’s why it’s important to read the information that comes with your screening invitation.
The balance of pros and cons is different for each type of cancer screening. Understanding the possible benefits and risks of screening can help you decide whether you want to take part or not.
The main potential benefit of screening is saving lives from cancer:
There are 4 main risks to screening:
You can find out about how common the possible benefits and risks are in the information that comes with your screening invitation.
It is your choice whether or not to go for screening.
You will be sent information with your screening invitation about the possible benefits and risks of the test. You should read this information to help you make a decision, and ask your doctor if you have any questions.
We may all feel differently about the possible benefits and risks of screening. You should make the decision that is right for you.
Cancer screening is offered at ages when the benefits are biggest and the harms are smallest (read more about these in the pros and cons section above).
People who are younger than the screening age are usually at a lower risk of cancer. This means that for most of these people, the harms of screening would outweigh the benefits.
Normally, you can’t be screened for cancer before the age the programme starts. But if you have a family history of breast or bowel cancer, you might be at higher risk and be able to start screening earlier. Talk to your GP if you are worried about your family history of cancer.
If you are older than the age range for bowel screening in England and Scotland, or for breast screening anywhere in the UK, you can still be screened if you want. You won’t get an automatic invitation, but your GP surgery can tell you who to contact to ask for screening.
Whatever your age, it’s important to remember screening is for people without symptoms. If you notice anything unusual, tell your doctor right away.
If you aren’t due to be invited for screening, there are still lots of things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer. Find out what changes could make the biggest difference in your life.
Screening programmes are only set up for a cancer type if they will save lives from the disease without too much risk. If there isn’t a good enough screening test, or screening would do more harm overall, then a screening programme isn’t introduced.
A screening programme needs to have a good enough test for it to work. This test must:
If a test doesn’t do these things, it’s unlikely to work well in a screening programme for the whole population.
If a cancer is rare, screening everyone wouldn’t work, and it would be harder for the benefits to outweigh the harms across everyone taking part. If good screening tests are available for rarer cancers, doctors will often offer them to people who are at highest risk of the disease.
At the moment, there isn’t enough evidence to say that screening for any type of cancer other than breast, bowel, and cervical cancer would be a good idea.
Researchers are always looking for new screening tests and new ways to spot cancers early. There has been lots of research into prostate cancer screening, lung cancer screening and ovarian cancer screening. None of these cancer types have national screening programmes at the moment.
Public Health England. NHS Population Screening Explained. (2019) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-population-screening-explained
Public Health England. NHS Bowel Cancer Screening – Helping You Decide (2019)
Public Health England. NHS Breast Screening – Helping You Decide (2020)
Public Health England. NHS Cervical Screening – Helping You Decide (2020)
I’m trans or non-binary, does this affect my cancer screening?
Screening is for people without symptoms.
What is cancer screening?
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