📞 0208 574 5136  |  Mon–Fri 08:00–18:30 NHS GP Practice · West London
S SALUJA CLINIC SALUJA CLINIC
NHS Screening Programme

Cancer Screening

Early detection saves lives. Our practice participates in all three NHS cancer screening programmes — bowel, breast, and cervical. Screening finds cancer before symptoms appear, when treatment is most likely to succeed.

3
NHS Screening Programmes
Bowel · Breast · Cervical
1,400
Lives saved per year
Breast screening programme alone
9 in 10
Bowel cancers treatable
When caught at the earliest stage
Bowel Cancer · Simulation
Healthy Bowel
Bowel Cancer Screening

Bowel Cancer — Know the Signs

Bowel cancer (colorectal cancer) affects the colon, rectum, or small bowel. It is the UK's fourth most common cancer and the second biggest cause of cancer death — yet it is highly treatable when caught early through screening.

  • Bleeding from the rectum or blood in stools
  • Change in bowel habits lasting more than 4–6 weeks (looser stools or diarrhoea)
  • A feeling of needing to strain even after passing stools
  • Unexplained weight loss or persistent abdominal pain
  • A lump in the abdomen, more commonly on the right side
  • Unexplained fatigue or breathlessness (anaemia from internal bleeding)

🧪 Bowel Cancer Screening Programme

The NHS sends a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kit to eligible patients by post. You complete the simple home test and return it — no clinic visit needed.

  • Automatically invited by post from age 50–74 every two years
  • Aged 75+ or under 50 with concerns? Request a kit free on 0800 707 60 60
  • If the test detects blood, you'll be referred for a colonoscopy
  • Ensure your GP holds your correct home address
📦
If you have any concerns about bowel symptoms between screenings, do not wait — please book an appointment with your GP promptly.
Breast Screening

Breast Screening — Early Detection

The NHS National Breast Screening Programme, introduced in 1988, uses mammography (low-dose X-rays) to detect breast cancer early — often before any symptoms appear. It currently saves around 1,400 lives per year in England alone.

Early detection frequently means simpler, more successful treatment with better outcomes.

📅 Who Is Invited & When?

  • All women aged 50–70 are routinely invited for a free mammogram every 3 years
  • Women must receive their first invitation before their 53rd birthday
  • Invitations are sent by area on a rolling programme — not by birthday
  • Women over 70 can self-refer to continue screening every 3 years
  • Under 50 with concerns? Book an appointment with your GP

🏥 What to Expect at a Mammogram

  • Each breast is gently compressed between two flat X-ray plates for a few seconds
  • Two X-ray images are taken of each breast from different angles
  • The appointment typically takes around 30 minutes
  • Results are sent by post within 2 weeks
ℹ️
Invitations depend on which GP practice you are registered with, not your birthday. Keep your contact details up to date at reception.
Mammography · Simulation
Breast Tissue
Cervical Screening · Simulation
Normal Cells
Cervical Screening

Cervical Screening — Prevention First

Cervical screening (the smear test) is not a test for cancer — it's a test to detect abnormal pre-cancerous cells in the cervix before they have a chance to become cancer. Most abnormalities are minor and resolve on their own or are easily treated.

  • For women aged 25–49: every 3 years
  • For women aged 50–64: every 5 years
  • More frequently if previous results showed abnormal changes
  • 1 in 20 tests shows minor cell changes — the vast majority are not cancer

🔬 What Happens at the Appointment?

Our qualified practice nurses carry out cervical screening. The appointment takes approximately 10 minutes.

  • A small soft brush is used to gently collect cells from the cervix
  • Cells are sent to the lab to be checked under a microscope
  • You must have received an invitation letter before booking
  • Please book for a time when you are not menstruating
📋
To book your cervical screening appointment, please call the surgery on 0208 574 5136. Ensure you have received your invitation letter beforehand.

Questions About Cancer? Macmillan Can Help

Macmillan Cancer Support provides free, expert information and emotional support for people living with or affected by cancer — or those with concerns.

Call free: 0808 808 0000 · Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm  |  macmillan.org.uk

↗ Visit Macmillan

The NHS App — Your Health,
At Your Fingertips

Register for the NHS App to manage your health anytime, anywhere. Our practice supports full NHS App integration for all patients.

View and manage screening invitations
Book GP appointments online
View your medical records and test results
Message healthcare services securely
S SALUJA CLINIC
↗ Download the NHS App Register for Online Services
Non-Emergency
NHS 111

Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For urgent medical advice when your GP is closed, or if you are worried about a cancer symptom.

Life-Threatening Emergency
999

Dial 999 immediately for any life-threatening emergency — chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, or loss of consciousness.