Screening

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What you can do and where to get help and information

Breast Screening
Breast screening is available to all women aged 50 or over. Women over 70 need to contact the South West London Breast screening unit directly on 020 8725 2723/4.

Early detection of breast cancer is the single most important factor in improving breast cancer survival. Early detection can mean more successful, and sometimes simpler treatment. Breast Screening offers the best opportunity for early detection.

There is a 5 point code:

1. Know what is normal for you
2. Know what changes to look and feel for
3. Look and feel
4. Report any changes to your GP with out delay
5. Attend routine breast screening if you are aged 50 or over

Cervical Cancer Screening
All women aged between 25 – 64 and registered with a GP will automatically receive an invitation every 3 years for women aged between 25-49 and every five years for women aged 50 – 64 years

The best way of preventing cervical cancer is to attend for regular smear tests by booking an appointment with your practice nurse, GP or family planning clinic.

Bowel Cancer Screening
Bowel cancer screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be effective.

Bowel cancer screening will be available for men and women aged between 60 and 69 every two years. People in this age group will automatically be sent an invitation, then their screening kit, so they can do the test at home.

If you are 70 or over you can call 0800 7076060 to request a free kit.

What Kingston Council are doing

Kingston Council are involved with a number of initiatives in the borough to promote awareness.

Breast awareness

• We provide breast awareness talks to women in local community groups.
• We will be participating in breast awareness month in October by displaying posters in Kingston pharmacies
• We encourage the practice nurses and GPs to remind you of the importance of breast screening

Cervical screening awareness

• We provide talks to women in local community groups on the importance of cervical screening  
• We will be participating in breast awareness month in May by displaying posters in Kingston pharmacies
• We encourage the practice nurses and GPs to remind you of the importance of cervical screening

Contacts

You can contact  Sarah van Thiel, Kingston Primary Care Trust cancer screening coordinator by emailing sarah.vanthiel@kpct.nhs.uk,  or sarah.vanthiel@rpct.nhs.uk.