Over 350,000 missed cancer screenings due to fear or lack of awareness, according to SYB Cancer Alliance records.
Cervical cancer screening has seen around 112,000 women miss appointments and invitations over the past 30 months. Bowel cancer screening has also been affected with 68,000 people not taking up invitations. Breast cancer screening is on track to revolutionize access with a new ‘ping and book’ service launched in 2024.
Dr Steph Edgar, GP and Deputy Clinical Lead for the SYB Cancer Alliance, urges those concerned to seek information about screening procedures. “Early detection can save lives,” she said.
For cervical cancer, visit https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-awareness/cervical-cancer-awareness. For bowel cancer, use a home testing kit available on Freeview 262 or Freely 565, which uses a test to look for blood in stool samples.
The NHS is also launching a new ‘ping and book’ service for breast cancer screening, aiming to improve uptake and detection rates. Despite rising numbers, over a third of women missed breast screening in 2022/23.
Source: https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/health/dont-miss-life-saving-opportunities-for-cancer-screening-4953445