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Breast screening programme

Breast screening
  • All women aged 50-70 are invited to attend for a mammogram at their local breast screening unit every three years.
  • Women over 70 are still at risk of breast cancer.
  • Although not routinely invited for breast screening, they are encouraged to call their local screening unit to request breast screening every 3 years.
  • Breast screening uses an X-ray test called a mammogram to check the breast for signs of cancer.
  • It can spot cancers that are too small to see or feel.

Find out more about the Northern Ireland Breast Screening Programme

  • Breast cancer

    Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women in Northern Ireland after non-melanoma skin cancer. Breast cancer can occur at any age. However, the risk of developing it increases with age. Most breast cancers occur in women over 50. If it is found early, there is a better chance that treatment will be successful.

    There were 1,610 cases of female breast cancer diagnosed in Northern Ireland in 2021. On average 11 cases of male breast cancer are diagnosed in Northern Ireland each year.

Cervical screening programme

  • All women aged 25-49 are invited to attend for a cervical screening test every three years.
  • Women aged 50-64 are invited every five years.
  • The test (also called a smear test) looks for high risk HPV and abnormal cells on the lining of the cervix.
  • If these cells are not treated, they might turn into cervical cancer.
  • The screening test can detect cancers, but it is also the best way for women to protect themselves from developing cervical cancer in the future.  

 

Find out more about the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme

  • Cervical cancer

    There were 82 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in Northern Ireland in 2021. While it is possible for women of all ages to develop cervical cancer, it most commonly occurs in women in their 30s or 40s. It is rare in women under 25.

Bowel cancer screening programme

Bowel cancer screening
  • All men and women aged 60-74 are offered screening every two years.
  • This uses a home test kit to look for unseen traces of blood in the bowel motions.
  • Blood in the stools can be a sign of bowel cancer so further tests can then be carried out.
  • Screening can also find polyps in the bowel.
  • These may develop into cancer later if they are not removed.
  • Regular bowel cancer screening reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer

Find out more about the Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme

  • Bowel (colorectal) cancer

    There were 1,399 cases of bowel cancer (colorectal) diagnosed in Northern Ireland in 2021. Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Northern Ireland. Bowel cancer is more common in older people, especially men.

Questions about screening

If you have been invited for screening, or have been for screening and have any questions about the result, you should contact the name and address shown on your invitation letter or result letter. If you are worried about a specific problem, or otherwise worried about the risks of cancer, then you should talk to your GP.

Checking out changes

Screening is an important element in cancer detection and prevention. However, it’s still important to check yourself regularly and keep an eye out for any changes in your body.