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Cancer screening

Cancer screening checks for early signs of cancer or changes in your body that could turn into cancer. This helps identify cancer before you have any symptoms or start to feel unwell, making it easier to treat.  

In England, cancer screening is: 

  • free 
  • offered by the NHS 
  • your choice 

There are 4 free national cancer screening programmes:

  • breast
  • bowel
  • cervical
  • lung

You need to be registered with a GP practice to be automatically invited to the NHS screening programmes when you’re eligible. Screening saves lives, so it is important to go to your screening appointment when you’re invited. You can talk to your GP or health professional about any of the screening programmes. 

Cervical screening 

Cervical screening is a test to check for a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can cause changes to cells in the cervix (entrance to the womb) which could develop into cervical cancer. 

The screening is done every 5 years and is for anyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64 years, including women, trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth. 

Anyone registered as female at a GP practice and aged between 25 and 64 will automatically receive an invitation letter through the NHS App, by text or by post. If you think you should have a cervical screening test, but you've not been invited, talk to your GP. 

Find out more about cervical screening on the NHS website.

Bowel cancer screening 

Bowel cancer screening is a test you do at home that looks for blood in your poo, which could be a sign of bowel cancer. Screening can help to prevent bowel cancer or find it early when it’s easier to treat. 

Bowel cancer screening is for everyone aged 50 to 74 years. You will be sent a bowel cancer screening home test kit called FIT (faecal immunochemical test) by post. This happens every 2 years.

If you’re aged 75 or over or did not get a kit when you think you should have, you can ask for a home test kit every 2 years by calling the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060. 

Find out more about bowel cancer screening on the NHS website.

Download the easy guide to bowel cancer screening

Breast screening 

Breast screening can find breast cancer before any signs or symptoms appear. Breast screening uses X-rays called mammograms to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel. 

Breast screening is for anyone aged 50 to 70 years who has breasts, including:

  • men
  • women
  • trans men
  • trans women
  • non-binary people

The screening takes place every 3 years. Anyone registered with a GP practice as female, aged 50 to 70 years will automatically be sent an invitation letter by email, text, or post. You will get your first invite between the ages of 50 and 53 years. 

It is also important that you practice checking your breasts every month to help find any changes early and prevent breast cancer. If you notice anything different to normal, talk to your GP as soon as possible. More information on how to check your breasts and being breast aware can be found here.

If you are aged over 71 years or think you should have a breast screening but have not been invited, you can contact the London Breast Screening Service and call 020 3758 2024 to book an appointment.

Find out more about breast cancer screening on the NHS website.

Lung cancer screening

Lung screening checks the health of your lungs to look for signs of lung cancer, before you have any symptoms. In the check, you will have a phone call to ask some questions about your breathing and lung health, lifestyle, and medical and family history. If your answers show you are eligible, you will be invited for an appointment with a nurse. You may also be invited for a lung CT scan, if your results show you have a higher risk of lung cancer.  

Lung cancer screening is for people aged 55 to 74 years who smoke or used to smoke. If you’re aged 55 to 74 years and your GP records show that you smoke or used to smoke, you will get an invitation letter by post. Screening is done every 2 years.

If you think you should have a lung screening, but do not get an invitation letter, call the Lung Cancer Screening service on 0800 652 9589 or email [email protected].

Find out more about lung cancer screening on the NHS website.

Prostate cancer

Screening for prostate cancer is currently only recommended for people who have a specific gene mutation (BRCA2 variant) with a family history of certain cancers. 

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is used to identify problems affecting the prostate by checking the levels of PSA in the blood. Small amounts of PSA are produced naturally by the prostate, and this increases slightly as you get older. Raised PSA levels could be a sign of a prostate condition like an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. PSA levels can also be raised by other factors, so if your levels are high, you will need further tests to confirm you have prostate cancer.

If you have any concerns or notice any symptoms, speak to your GP

Find out more about prostate cancer on the NHS website. A range of resources are also available on the Prostate Cancer UK website. 

Information and support for cancer screening

If you have any worries about cancer screening or notice any changes in your body that you think could be cancer, speak to your GP as soon as possible.  

Information resources include: