Why have I been referred urgently to the Hospital?
It is important to remember that even though you are getting an urgent referral, being referred to a specialist does not necessarily mean you have cancer.
Download
Find out more information about the urgent two week wait referral system (PDF)Cervical Cancer Screening
A cervical screening test (previously known as a smear test) is a method of detecting abnormal cells on the cervix.
About 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK. In some cases, if abnormal cells are found they will need to be removed so they can’t become cancerous.
It is possible for sexually active women of all ages to develop cervical cancer, although the condition is most common in women aged 30 to 45. The condition is very rare in women under 25.
All women who are registered with a GP are invited for cervical screening:
– If you are aged 25-49 – invited every 3 years
– If you are aged 50-64 – invited every 5 years
– If you are over 65 – only women invited are those who have recently had abnormal tests.
Website
Cervical screening – NHSBreast Cancer Screening
About 1 in 8 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. If it is detected early, treatment is more successful and there is a good chance of recovery. Breast screening aims to find breast cancers early. It uses an x-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they are too small to see or feel.
As the likelihood of getting breast cancer increases with age, all women aged from 50 to their 71st birthday, and registered with a GP are automatically invited for a breast cancer screening every 3 years.
In the meantime, if you are worried about breast cancer symptoms, such as a lump or area of thickened tissue in a breast, or you notice that your breasts look or feel different from what is normal for you, don’t wait to be offered screening and see your GP.
Website
Breast screening (mammogram) – NHS