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[Animation] Cancer prevention and awareness
Checking your skin and moles
Regularly checking your skin and moles for any changes can help detect skin cancer at an early stage.
Always get a mole checked if it:
- changes shape
- gets bigger
- changes colour or becomes darker
- starts itching, crusting, flaking or bleeding
If you notice any new lumps on your skin - or sore, scaly patches – it’s always best to get it checked out.
Checking your testicles
If you have testicles, you should regularly check them for any lumps or changes. Testicular cancer is easier to treat if you find it early.
Check your testicles when you’re warm and standing up, maybe after having a shower or bath.
Roll each testicle between your thumb and finger and check for any lumps, changes in size or swelling. Always contact a GP if you find anything unusual or have pain in either testicle.
Checking your breasts
Checking your breasts regularly helps you know what’s normal for you. Look at each breast and nipple to check for any changes in size or shape. This includes whether:
- your nipple has sunken or become inverted (turns inwards)
- or if there is any fluid (discharge) or blood coming from one or both nipples
Check your skin for any:
- redness
- rashes
- dimpling
- puckering
Feel for any lumps or painful areas. Use the flat part of your fingers to gently work around each breast, pressing in small, circular motions.
Always see a GP if you notice any unusual changes.
Breast screening
Breast screening aims to find breast cancers early, when they have the best chance of being cured. Anyone between the ages of 50 and 71, and registered with a GP as female, will be invited for breast screening every three years. You'll get a letter in the post inviting you.
Breast screening uses a test called mammography, which involves taking x-rays of your breasts.
Cervical screening
In England, all people with a cervix aged 25 to 49 will be invited for a cervical screening appointment every three years. People aged 50 to 64, and those who live in Scotland and Wales, receive invitations every five years.
Cervical screening is commonly called a smear test and checks the health of your cervix. Your cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina.
During your screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.
This sample is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. If these cells are found, they can be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
Bowel cancer screening
UK screening programmes send a bowel cancer testing kit every two years to eligible people between the ages of 50 and 74. The age will vary depending on where you live in the UK.
- In Scotland, it’s offered to men and women aged between 50 and 74.
- In Wales, it’s offered to men and women aged between 58 and 74.
- In England, it’s offered to men and women aged between 60 and 74.
The kit comes in the post and is easy to do in the comfort of your own home.
In the kit, you’ll find a small stick which is used to collect a sample of your poo. It will come with full instructions, guiding you step by step on how to collect and return your sample correctly.
There are certain symptoms to be aware of that can indicate bowel cancer. Always see a GP if you have any of the following.
- Bleeding from your bottom or blood in your poo.
- Changes in your bowel habits.
- Persistent pain or bloating in your tummy.
- Fatigue or weight loss for no apparent reason.
PSA testing for prostate cancer
A PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. A raised PSA level may suggest you have a problem with your prostate, but not necessarily cancer.
This is why it’s not offered as part of a national screening programme. But you can request one over the age of 50. You may also be offered a PSA test as part of a general health check.
There are advantages and disadvantages of having a PSA test. It’s a good idea to learn more about these before deciding to have it.
There are certain symptoms to be aware of that can indicate prostate cancer. Always see a GP if you have any of the following.
- Problems passing urine, such as needing to go urgently or often, or being unable to go at all.
- Blood in your urine.
- Pain when you wee.
- A urine infection.
These are also symptoms of much less serious conditions. But it’s always worth contacting a GP if you have them.
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Sources
- Melanoma warning signs. Skin Cancer Foundation. www.skincancer.org, last updated January 2021
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Melanoma and pigmented lesions. cks.nice.org.uk, last revised March 2017
- Gaddam SJ, Chesnut GT. Testicle cancer. StatPearls Publishing. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563159/, last updated November 2021
- How to check your balls (testicles). Macmillan. Macmillan.co.uk, published 2016
- Testicular cancer symptoms. Cancer Research UK. www.cancerresearchuk.org, last reviewed 8 August 2021
- Breast cancer symptoms. Breast Cancer Now. breastcancernow.org, last reviewed July 2021
- Breast screening: programme overview. GOV.UK, www.gov.uk, last updated 17 March 2021
- Cervical screening (smear test). NHS Inform. www.nhsinform.scot, last updated 2 November 2021
- Written Statement: Change to cervical screening interval. Welsh Government. gov.wales, last updated January 2022
- Cervical screening: programme overview. GOV.UK. www.gov.uk, last updated 17 March 2021
- Bowel screening. NHS Inform. www.nhsinform.scot, last updated 15 December 2021
- Bowel screening Wales New Invitation Age 2021. Public Health Wales. phw.nhs.wales, published 12 October 2021
- Bowel cancer screening: programme overview. GOV.UK. www.gov.uk, last updated March 2021
- Symptoms of bowel cancer. Bowel Cancer UK. www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk, last reviewed June 2019
- Information about PSA testing. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk, last revised June 2021
- What are the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer? NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk, last revised June 2021
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