Screening

What is screening

the systematic application of a test in a population that appears healthy to identify individuals who are at higher risk of a health problem

purpose

detect diseases or conditions early, before symptoms develop, in order to facilitate timely intervention and improve outcomes.

principles of screening (4)

• Reduce mortality by early detection and early treatment of a condition

 

• To reduce the incidence of a condition by identifying and treating its precursors

 

• To reduce the severity of a condition by identifying people with the condition and offering effective treatment

 

• To increase choice by identifying conditions or risk factors at an early stage in a life-course when more options are available

Difference between screening and early detection:

Screening invites people who do not have symptoms to undergo testing while early diagnosis is intended to detect conditions as early as possible in people with symptoms

rate of bowel cancer in ireland annually

Around 2,800 people diagnosed every year with bowel cancer

purpose of BS

The purpose of bowel screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage when it is easier to treat

BS kit and test

• Home tests look for tiny amounts of blood in bowel motion that is not visible to the human eye

• Kit is then sent to the lab for analyse

• If blood is found it does not tell there is a bowel cancer but furthter tests are required

who is eligible for BS

• Men and women aged 59 to 69

• Simple home test returned by freepost

• A letter will be sent to invite you to join the programme

• After first kit is received and sent for analyse, you will receive another kit every 2 years

• Results in 4 weeks to you and your GP

abnormal BS results?

If results are abnormal, you will be invited to have a colonoscopy. This is where a thin, flexible tube with a small camera is used to look for polyps inside your bowel

cervical screening; how many cases can it prevent

estimated that cervical screening can prevent 3 out of 4 cases

cervical cancer principles

• anyone with a cervix aged between 25 and 65 years old

25-29; how often to have a smear test

every 3 years

30-65 years; how many years in between screenings

20-65; 5 years between screenings

best time to have a cervical screening test?

halfway through your cycle; 10-14 days after first day of your period

what happens during a screening

a sample of cells is taken from the cervix and checked for infection with hrHPV cells

what happens if no hrPHV is found

nothing; next test will be in 3/5 years depending on age

what happens if hrHPV is found

sample of cells checked for any abnormal changes; called CIN

what if no changes are found

repeat test after a year to check if infection has cleared up

if changes found?

refered for a colposcopy where your cervix is closely examined using a light and a microscope

how long does the result letter take

about 4 weeks

what is cervical cancer

Cancer in the cells lining the cervix

• abnormal cells; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

how many women diagnosed with CC a year in ireland

250 women

how many people die a year from CC

90 women

how many subtypes of HPV

over 200, 14 cause CC

cervicalcheck stats

Since CC started in 2008;

more than 3 million screenings done

Incidence of women developing cancer has fallen

Reduction in incidence by 7%