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Screening

Screening is the process of identifying people who appear healthy but may have a higher chance of developing a disease or condition.  

There are a number of national screening programmes in Scotland. Screening programmes are designed to detect early signs of a disease or condition and to provide referral and treatment where necessary.

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) (ultrasound of abdomen)
  • Bowel cancer (home test kit)
  • Breast cancer (screening)
  • Cervical cancer (smear tests)
  • Diabetic retinopathy (images taken of the eye)

Am I eligible for screening?

We want everyone to make an informed choice around screening. Visit NHS Inform for more information.

Use the drop down menus below to see what screening you are eligible for. 

If you're over 50 you're eligible for certain screening programmes.

www.nhsinform.scot/screening

Are you a trans man or woman and unsure of which screening progammes you are elligible for?

No matter which, if any, gender you identify with, it is important to check www.nhsinform.org/trans-screening  to see what you’re eligible for.

9 out of 10 people survive bowel cancer if it is found and treated early. A bowel screening test can find bowel cancer early, even if you don't have any symptoms.

For more information visit www.nhsinform.scot/bowelscreening

If you are concerned about a potential sign or symptom of bowel cancer, don't wait for your invitation to arrive. The test can also be done in the privacy of your own home.

For more information visit www.nhsinform.scot/bowelscreening

Have you noticed a recent change in your bowel habit that continues for more than four weeks?

Contact your GP practice to get it checked.

For more information visit www.nhsinform.scot/bowelscreening

Sudden vision loss, blurred or patchy vision? Shapes floating in your field of vision?

If you are of 12 years and over, don't wait for your diabetic eye screening appointment. The earlier a condition is found the easier it is to treat. Contact your optician to get it checked.

For more information visit www.nhsinform.scot/DESscreening

A smear test can stop cervical cancer before it starts.

The cervical screening test (also known as a smear test) takes a sample of cells from the cervix (neck of the womb) and checks it for human papillomavirus (HPV).

To find out more visit www.nhsinform.scot/cervicalscreening

It's safe to wait 5 years in between cervical screening (smear) tests if no HPV is found.

Evidence shows if no HPV is found in your sample, you have a verylow risk of developing cervical cancer within 5 years. It takes around

10 to 15 years for cervical cancer to develop after an HPV infection.

For more information visit www.nhsinform.scot/cervicalscreening

 

A new lump, area of thickened tissue, a change in size or shape to your breast? 

If you have any of these, don't wait for your breast screening invite to arrive. Contact your GP practice to get it checked.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurism (AAA) screening - quick scan, instant result.

Men aged 65 are invited for a one-off simple ultrasound of the abdomen (tummy) to detect a AAA.

Treating a AAA early greatly reduces the chance of it causing serious problems. It could save your life. For more information visit www.nhsinform.scot/aaascreening

Need information about bowel screening in other formats and languages?

Translated information about all types of screening is available. This information is also available in other formats including BSL, Easy Read and Audio.

Bowel Screening

Cervical Screening

Breast-screening

Abdominal aortic aneurism aaa Screening

Diabetic retinopathy Screening

 

Other pages in Cancer services

Cancers by type

Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service

South East of Scotland Cancer Network

Single Point of Contact Hub

Prehabilitation

Maggie's Centre Fife

Palliative cancer care

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