Screening aims to identify a condition when it is at an early stage. It is a test, offered to people who have no symptoms but who are considered to be at risk from the condition/disease. 

No screening test is completely accurate and there will always be a small number  that gave an incorrect reading.

When a test result is positive but the person does not have the condition this is known as a "false positive". On the other hand, if a test shows no sign of the condition when the condition is present this is known as a "false negative".

Although the number of these false results is small it is important to be aware that the screening process is not foolproof. It does not provide a guarantee that you will not develop a condition in the future so it is important that you attend for screening at the recommended intervals.

The CancerHelp website has a useful section explaining screening programmes.

What cancers do we screen for?

Northern Ireland currently has screening programmes for breast and cervical cancer.  A screening programme for bowel cancer is being introduced from December 2009.  For more information about each of the screening programmes, please click on the links below.   

Go to Breast screening

Go to Cervical screening

Go to Bowel screening

Other tests
There are no effective screening tests for other types of cancer yet and so there are currently no other cancer screening programmes in the UK. 

Research is looking into screening tests for prostate and ovarian cancer.  But there are no plans to introduce screening programmes in the UK for these cancers because there are no proven tests yet.

Some people who are at a high risk of developing certain types of cancer may be offered the chance to have regular tests or check-ups.  For example, people at high risk of melanoma skin cancer can ask to be referred to a skin specialist (a dermatologist) to have their moles checked.  
 

Further information

Why are only some conditions screened for?