A top health charity has raised concerns over a fall in the number of people participating in cancer screening. It comes despite new figures demonstrating the effectiveness of these tests in early cancer detection.
Cancer Research UK’s analysis reveals that between 2019 and 2023, nearly 90,000 cancers were detected through breast, bowel, and cervical cancer screening programmes. This includes 62,000 cases of breast cancer, 23,000 cases of bowel cancer, and 4,400 cases of cervical cancer.
However, the charity is worried about the declining participation rates for breast and cervical cancer screenings. Approximately 70% of eligible individuals participate in bowel cancer screening, 69% in cervical cancer screening, and 65% in breast cancer screening.
The charity noted that the uptake for breast cancer checks has not returned to pre-pandemic levels – with 71.1% participating in 2019. Furthermore, participation in cervical cancer screening has been on a steady decline over the past decade – from 74.2% in 2014 to 68.7% in 2023.
The charity also believes more efforts can be made to reach the 30% who do not participate in bowel cancer screening, even though participation in this service has seen an increase in recent years. CRUK is urging for improvements to make screening more accessible in England, including the option to book appointments outside of regular hours.
The charity’s CEO, Michelle Mitchell, emphasized that increasing access to screening “means better chances of catching cancer early”, reports Surrey Live. However, CRUK warned that the NHS’s goal to diagnose 75% of cancers at an early stage by 2028 is currently “not on track”, and enhancing screening will be crucial to achieving this target.
Mitchell stated: “Every year, screening programmes help spot thousands of cancer cases across England. But there’s so much more that can be done. Making screening more digital, and improving data collection to know who is and isn’t coming forward, will help to target people who currently miss their appointments, but would like to attend. This is essential – better access to screening means better chances of catching cancer early.”
Additionally, Cancer Research UK’s senior health information manager, Dr Claire Knight, noted: “The three screening programmes are available to different groups of people – you can find out if you’re eligible on the NHS website. For most people, if you’re registered with a GP, you will automatically be invited for screening, but speak to your doctor if you’re not sure.
“Your screening invite will also come with information about the process. Make sure to read this before deciding whether you want to attend. It’s important to remember that cancer screening is for people without symptoms though. If you notice any changes that aren’t normal for you don’t wait for your next screening invite, talk to your doctor. It probably won’t be cancer, but if it is, spotting it early means that treatment is more likely to be successful.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “When it comes to fighting cancer, every second counts and as these figures show, our screening programmes are detecting thousands of cases. We urge everyone to accept the offer of screening because early diagnosis leads to more effective treatment and can save lives.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we will make the NHS fit for the future and fight cancer on all fronts – through prevention, faster diagnosis, treatment and research.”