The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every three years for all women in the UK aged 50 to 70. All of the eligible women at Barretts Grove Surgery will be invited for screening at the same time. Around one-and-a-half million women are screened in the UK each year.

Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage. Women are invited to attend a special clinic or mobile screening unit to have a mammogram. A mammogram is a special type of X-ray that looks at the tissue of the breast. As it is able to reveal changes too small to be felt, it can potentially detect a change before you or your doctor has noticed anything different.

 If you would like any more information on Breast Screening please visit the National Breast Screening Programme website: http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen    

The purpose of the breast screening programme is to help to save lives: the earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the chances of survival.

You will receive your breast screening appointment in a few weeks.

We would encourage you to attend your appointment when you receive your invitation, or rebook it if the time is not convenient.

If you have already been invited to have a mammogram but did not attend, you can rebook your appointment by ringing the breast screening service on 020 7601 8305 or visit www.celbreastscreening.org.uk.

You can also choose to go to other screening units (such as Barts, Kentish Town, Mile End or Whipps Cross) if they are more convenient (please ask about this when you phone the breast screening service).

If you are aged 60+, the NHS invites you to join the NHS Bowel Screening Programme. If you are about to turn 60 and registered with us, you will soon receive your first invitation and screening test.

Bowel Cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK and 80% of the people diagnosed are aged over 60 (Cancer Research UK). Which means that it is essential to detect the early stages quickly and effectively. 9 out of every 10 people with early-stage bowel cancer survive the disease.

All men and women between the ages of 60 and 74 are invited to take part in screening every 2 years. If you are eligible, you will be sent a test kit through the post in which you can use privately in your own home.

Watch the Cancer Research UK video opposite for more information:

If you need advice or more information, you can speak to your GP. Cancer Research UK also offer advice and more information on 020 8900 6020 or you can also visit their website: www.cruk.org/bowelcancerscreening.

Our surgery is a big supporter of the NHS Bowel Screening Programme and we hope that you will take advantage of this life-saving offer and decide to complete your test. Remember, regular screening and knowing when to visit your GP will help to make sure that bowel cancer can be picked up early and treated successfully.

Please do not be embarrassed – this is a type of test that millions of people have done successfully and as a result lives have been saved.

If you have not received you bowel screening test kit or need a new test kit please the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.