Cervical/HPV Screening
Who can have the screening?
You are automatically invited for the screening if you are:
- registered as a female at the surgery
- aged between 25 & 64
- you are screened every 3 years between the age of 25&49 or every 5 years between the ages of 50&64.
What is cervical screening?
Cervical screening is a test that helps prevent cervical cancer also known as a smear test.
Cervical Screening is not a test for cancer. It looks for cell changes (abnormal cells) on your cervix caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV.)
What is HPV?
Human Papillomavirus is a common virus that is passed through skin to skin contact. 80% of women will have at some point had the virus but usually our immune system will fight it!
How does HPV cause cervical cancer?
For a small number of women, their immune system cant get rid of HPV. If this happens, HPV may stay in your body for many years. This is called persistent infection. Over time, a persistent infection with high risk HPV can cause changes to cells. Cell changes mat develop into cervical cancer if they are not monitored or treated, The time between getting HPV and developing cell changes or cervical cancer varies from person to person.
For more information click the links below
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgJHMgLyy5QIVkETTCh2iIwxHEAAYASAAEgIChPD_BwE
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cervical-cancer?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy_zlg8qy5QIVA0TTCh2oPwxmEAAYASAAEgI1dfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm)
10 October, 2012
AAA stands for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. The aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to your body. It runs from your heart down through your chest and abdomen.
In some people, as they get older, the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can become weak. It can then start to expand and form what is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The condition is most common in men aged 65 and above. Men are six times more likely to have an aneurysm than women and your risk of having an aneurysm increases if you are or have been a smoker, you have high blood pressure or you have a close family member who has had one.
If you have an AAA you will not usually notice any signs or symptoms; this means cannot tell if you have one, will not feel any pain or notice anything different. Large aneurysms are rare but can be very serious. As the wall of the aorta stretches it becomes weak and can burst, causing internal bleeding. Around 85% die when an aneurysm bursts.
An aorta that is only slightly larger than normal is not dangerous; however, it is still important to know about it so that we can check if the aneurysm is getting bigger.
AAA screening is a free NHS national programme that screens men aged 65 plus to check if they have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The screening is by invitation and uses an ultra sound scan. If you are a man aged over 65 you are more at risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm that any other demographic so this is why you will be invited for screening.
We offer screening so we can find aneurysms early and monitor or treat them. This greatly reduces the chances of the aneurysm causing serious problems.
Men over 65 who have not previously been screened or diagnosed with an aneurysm can request a scan by contacting their local programme directly on: 0191 445 2554
The North East of England and North Cumbria AAA screening programme is run from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, you will be invited to a local clinic for an ultra sound scan. Our centre covers the area from North Yorkshire to Berwick and North Cumbria.
Click here for a leaflet with more information on the AAA screening process or here for accessible AAA screening process leaflets
http://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk/aaa
Please watch the attached video
https://vimeo.com/dfptv/review/220933933/551f06925f
NATIONAL BOWEL SCREENING PROGRAMME
The practice firmly believes that this simple test is a valuable aid in detecting any potential signs of bowel cancer cells and we would encourage you to complete and return the kit when you receive it.
Why it's offered
Bowel cancer is a common type of cancer in both men and women. About 1 in 20 people will get it during their lifetime.
Screening can help detect bowel cancer at an early stage, when it's easier to treat. It can also be used to help check for and remove small growths in the bowel called polyps, which can turn into cancer over time.
When it's offered
NHS bowel cancer screening is only offered to people aged 55 or over, as this is when you're more likely to get bowel cancer:
- if you're 60 to 74, you'll automatically be invited to do a home testing kit every 2 years
- if you're 75 or over, you can ask for a home testing kit every 2 years by calling the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60
For further information visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/
You should continue to be aware of any bowel symptoms such as:-
- A persistent change in bowel habit, especially going to the toilet more often or diarrhoea for several weeks
- Bleeding from the back passage without any obvious reasons
- Abdominal pain, especially if it is severe
Please remember that these symptoms do not necessarily mean that you have bowel cancer but if you have one or more of these symptoms you should see your GP.
Should you no longer have the test kit and now wish to take part, you can call the screening free-phone number: 0800 707 6060 and ask for another kit.