1. Prevention and Early Diagnosis of Cancer Ongar Health Centre Patient Forum 7th March 2018
Sue White
Cancer Research UK Facilitator

2. Quiz What is the main risk factor for cancer? A: Smoking
B: Being older
C: Family history
D: Drinking alcohol
E: Using deodorants

3. We have clear aims for early diagnosis
At the moment:
50% of cancer patients survive for 10 years
By 2034 we want to see this increase to 75%
Diagnosing people earlier will help achieve this
Aim to have 3 in 4 people diagnosed at stage I and II by 2034

4. Cancer Statistics for the UK

5. What is Screening? It targets a specific population or group of people
It is like a filter
Most people are unlikely to have the condition and will pass through the filter (screening test)
People whose results suggest they are more likely to have it are caught in the filter - they need further tests to determine if they really do have the condition

6. Why is screening important?
Screening reduces mortality
It can detect cancer at an early stage
88% of cancers detected through screening are at an early stage (stage I and II)

7. Breast screening: mammography
For women aged between 50 and 70 years, who are registered with a GP
Test is a mammogram – 2 x-rays of each breast
Carried out at special clinics or mobile breast screening units
Self-referral over 70

8. Breast Screening Ongar Health Centre 73.8% National Target Over 70%

9. Cervical screening aims to prevent cancer
It is NOT a test to find cancer. It is a test to detect changes to the cells of the cervix that may develop into cancer in the future
Women from 25-64, who are registered with a GP are eligible for cervical screening.
Women aged are invited every 3 years. After that, women are invited every 5 years until the age of 64

10. Cervical Screening Ongar Health Centre 78.5% National Target Over 80%

11. Bowel Screening

12. Bowel Cancer Screening
Men and women aged between are invited every 2 years.
Must be registered with a GP practice to receive invitation
Anyone over 74 can request a kit by calling
Screening kit completed at home and sent to the hub
The screening hub analyses the kit
The test detects tiny amounts of blood in the sample of poo, which can’t be seen by the eye
The test does not diagnose bowel cancer

13. Bowel Screening Ongar Health Centre 60.8% National Target Over 60%

14. Cancer screening programmes
Cervical screening
Women aged 25 to 64 in England
Every 3 years up to age 49, then every 5 years
Bowel screening
Men and women aged 60 to 74 invites up to 75
Every 2 years. Men and women over 74 can request screening
Kit received in post, 6 stool samples needed
Contact number for patients to request a kit
Breast screening
Women aged 50 to 70
Every 3 years
Women over 70 can request screening
West Essex Breast Screening Service

15. Prostate Cancer
Overall the evidence shows that offering PSA screening to men does not save any lives from prostate cancer
PSA testing can also cause harms:
Over diagnosis of cancers which would not have caused any harm
Overtreatment of cancers
Side effects from unnecessary treatment

16. Barriers to Screening Inconvenient appointment time No time/busy
Didn’t get an invitation letter
Cultural issues
Barriers to
Screening
Fear of pain
Don’t understand the test
Not sure who to call to rearrange appointment
Think they are low risk
Worried about finding cancer
Embarrassment

17. Key points
Diagnosing cancer earlier will give more patients the option of potentially curative treatments and an improved experience
Screening reduces the number of people dying from cancer and in some cases, can prevent cancer from developing
Lifestyle changes can really make a difference, and not just for cancer

18. Thank you! Sue White 07979915472 sue.white@cancer.org.uk
cruk.org/facilitators