Cervical screening coverage in West Yorkshire and Harrogate is above the England average, however the rates are falling, especially in younger age groups. Cervical screening is available to women and people with a cervix aged 25-64, those aged between 25-49 are screened every three years and between 50-64 every five years. Cervical screening looks for the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) in the cervix which can cause abnormal cells. If abnormal cells are found, a follow-up screen is arranged for 12 months’ time.

For more information, please visit Free NHS cervical screening Bradford – Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership website.

Understanding cervical screening

The video below outlines the process for cervical screening, from invitation through to results. If you’d like to access these videos in other languages, see West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance – Cancer Screening Videos.

West Yorkshire and Harrogate is working to improve uptake of all well person screening. Screening is offered to women every three years between the ages of 50-71. A mammogram is used to take x-rays of each breast twice to spot early signs of breast cancer before it can be seen or felt. After the age of 71, screens can be requested every three years at your local Breast Screening Unit.

For more information on breast screening please clink on the videos below or visit the Free NHS breast screening in Bradford | Quick, private, and could save your life – Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership website.

The videos below will help you understand the process for breast screening, from invitation through to results. If you’d like to access these videos in other languages, see West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance – Cancer Screening Videos.

Breast cancer screening programme – English

Breast cancer screening programme – Urdu

Breast cancer screening programme – Polish

Breast cancer screening – easy read video & BSL

Bowel screening coverage in West Yorkshire and Harrogate is above the England average.

Screening is offered every two years to people aged 54-74. It will soon be offered to people over the age of 50. People older that this can request a screen every two years by calling the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060. A kit called a FIT is sent to your home for you to take a sample of your poo and send back to the laboratory for testing.

For more information please click on the video below or visit the Free NHS bowel screening Bradford – Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership website.

The video below outlines the process for bowel screening, from invitation through to results. If you’d like to access these videos in other languages, see West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance – Cancer Screening Videos.

How to do a FIT (faecal immunochemical test)

Have you been asked to do a FIT (faecal immunochemical test) by your GP or by the national bowel screening programme? Watch this video for some top tips on how to do it.  People taking a FIT test as part of the national bowel screening programme should follow instructions on their pack for returning their sample, as they differ from the guidance at the end of this video.

Lung health checks, part of Lung Cancer Screening, is a programme of work funded by NHS England. Lung cancer is frequently diagnosed at a later stage than other cancers, due to there often being no signs at an early stage.  Lung health checks targets those most at risk of lung cancer and offers lung health checks to eligible participants who are current or former smokers. The programme aims to improve earlier diagnosis of lung cancer, at a stage when it is much more treatable.

People aged over 55 years old but less than 75 years old that have ever smoked will be invited to a free lung health check. This will include a lung cancer risk assessment, brief advice and a smoking cessation discussion and/or referral into specialist stop smoking services.

Following the lung health check those assessed as high risk will be offered a low dose Computerised Tomography (CT) scan.

For more information, please follow the Free NHS lung health checks in Bradford – spotting problems early – Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership website.

For more information on Lynch Syndrome, please follow the link below that will take you to our Lynch Syndrome patient support page. This patient support page will help you to:

• Understand what Lynch Syndrome is
• How to get tested for Lynch Syndrome
• Understand the genetics counselling service

Lynch Syndrome patient support – Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

What is Lynch Syndrome?

Lynch syndrome is a condition that increases the risk of many kinds of cancer. This is a condition that can run in families. It used to be called hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).

Families that have Lynch syndrome have more instances of cancer than expected. This might include colon cancer, endometrial cancer and other types of cancer. Lynch syndrome also causes cancers to happen at an earlier age.

People affected by Lynch Syndrome have a higher risk of developing:

• colon cancer
• rectal cancer
• womb (endometrial cancer)
• ovarian cancer

And they have a slightly higher risk of developing:

• stomach cancer
• pancreatic cancer
• small bowel cancer
• ureter and renal pelvis cancer

Lynch Syndrome UK is a UK charity that offers additional support and information for all people with Lynch Syndrome. Some of the support they provide includes:

• an online support group for people that is patient lead, offering advice, support and experience
• up to date advice on the website that can be downloaded and printed
• people can be sent “the beginners guide to Lynch Syndrome” as well as request a patient passport
• a new digital app has recently been launch with Professor Julian Barwell – access to this new app can be requested through the website
• a patient conference every year in March which gives people and their families an opportunity to ask questions of the clinicians in the room about their genetic disorder. This conference is alway’s well attended and clinicians are also welcome to come along. Please find more information on the conference here

A screening test is done to detect potential health disorders or diseases in people who do not have any symptoms of disease. The goal is early detection and lifestyle changes or surveillance, to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively.

It is really important to attend for screening appointments when you are invited to attend. If you have any concerns please speak to a healthcare professional who can support you.

#GetCheckedOut (English)

#GetCheckedOut (Bangla)

#GetCheckedOut (Polish)

#GetCheckedOut (Slovak)

#GetCheckedOut (Urdu)

#GetCheckedOut (English – young person)

Chest Check 101 – OUTpatients

Best for my Chest – OUTpatients

Screening MOT – OUTpatients

Remove the Doubt – OUTpatients

My Cervix My Service – OUTpatients

The Farming Community Network (FCN) are involved in a UK-wide partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support which is helping to imrpove the support available to those living with cancer in farming communities and rural areas.

As part of this partnership the FCN is working closely with Macmillan Cancer Support, including raising awareness in rural communities of the signs and symptoms of cancer and building referral bridges to and from Macmillan’s services.

Farmers, farm workers and people living in rural communities can have lower access to cancer services and support due to the nature of their work and rural life in often isolated areas.

Farmers often won’t get checked until the last minute. The ‘Nip it in the Bud’ campaign is aiming to change this.

For more information on the campaign, please follow this link.

The FCN can be contacted in confidence on 03000 111 999, 7am – 11pm, 365 days of the year. Speak to an empathetic volunteer who understands farming life.

Breast care and screening

How to check your balls (testicles)

Cervical screening

Bowel cancer screening – easy read guide