Accessing Screening in Northern Ireland
Bowel Screening
Bowel cancer screening is available to people aged 60-74. If you are registered with a GP in NI, an at-home bowel cancer screening test should be sent to your home every 2 years. It is important that you let your GP know of any changes in address.
Bowel Cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK.
In other parts of the UK, screening has been lowered to 50-74 to ensure cancer is detected early. Northern Ireland is currently behind in lowering the screening age: we support the lowering of the screening age in line with other parts of the UK screening programmes.
The test will check for small amounts of blood in your stool (poo) sample and you may be invited to complete further tests including a colonoscopy.
It is important to take part in bowel cancer screening as you may feel well even if you have early bowel cancer. Finding cancer early gives you the best chance of survival.
Contact your GP if you are in the age range for screening and think you should have received an at-home test kit. If you are not in the age range but have a family history or any of the following symptoms for more than 2 or 3 weeks, get in touch with your GP.
Symptoms can include:
- Changes in bowel movements
- Unexplained bleeding and/ or blood in your poo
- Pain or swelling in your abdomen (tummy)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained tiredness
Breast Screening
Breast screening in NI is offered to people aged 50-70 who are registered with their GP as female, every three years. Breast cancer can occur at any age, but risk increases with age. Breast cancer can affect people of all gender identities.
If you are not registered with your GP as female you will not be invited automatically to breast screening, but you may still need to be screened if you have breast tissue. If you are unsure about this, ask our team for advice.
If you have been taking estrogen as HRT for more than 2 years (less if you have significant breast tissue) or were assigned-female at birth and have not had a full mastectomy, you should contact your GP for screening; this can apply to trans, gender-nonconforming, and non-binary people. If you have had only a partial mastectomy, you should speak to your surgeon about your risk of breast cancer. For more information for trans and non-binary people about who needs breast screening, watch our video series.
Breast screening involves taking mammograms (x-rays of your breast/ chest/ pecs) to detect breast cancer. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better chances are treatment will be successful.
If you have any symptoms of breast cancer you should contact your GP rather than wait for screening, at which point you may be referred to a symptomatic breast screening clinic.
Symptoms can include:
- A lump, or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
- A change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling (may look like orange peel) or redness (may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
- A change in size or shape of one or both breasts.
- Nipple discharge (if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it
- A change in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards (inverted nipple) or a rash on it (may look like eczema)
- Pain in your breast or armpit which does not go away – breast pain that comes and goes is usually not a symptom of breast cancer.
If you are living in Northern Ireland, and out of the NHS range for breast screening and between the ages of 40 – 49, or 70+ you can access screening with Action Cancer.
Cervical Screening
Cervical screening is offered to people who are 25-64 years old and registered with their GP as female. You should receive an invitation letter every 3 years if aged 25-49, and every 5 years if aged 50-64.
Cervical screening should be accessed by everyone 25-64 years old if they have a cervix. You can develop cervical cancer regardless of your sexuality, and whether or not you have had penetrative sex.
If you have changed your gender marker from female to male but have a cervix you should still access cervical screening. If you think you should been contacted about cervical screening and have not received a letter, get in touch with your GP.
Cervical screening is a test which checks for certain types of HPV in the cervix, which helps to catch cancer early. The most common cause of cervical cancer is human papiloma virus (HPV). Some types of HPV can cause abnormal cell changes in the cervix that may develop into cervical cancer over a long period of time.
If high-risk HPV is detected in your sample you may be invited back for further tests including a colposcopy.
Early stages of cervical cancer can cause symptoms that are hard to notice therefore it is important to attend regular screening.
Symptoms to be aware of include:
- Bleeding during or after sex, between periods, after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
- Changes to your discharge
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Pain in the lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower belly
AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm) Screening
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a widening of the main artery in the body, as it passes through the abdomen (stomach). The walls of the artery weaken, causing it to balloon out. This is the only National screening programme focused on heart-health, not cancer.
The aneurysm is typically symptomless and most people are not aware they have it. Not every aneurysm will burst, but if it does, the chances of getting treatment in time and surviving surgery is low. A burst AAA leads to serious internal bleeding, which is fatal in 8 out of 10 cases.
People 65+ assigned male at birth, including trans women and non-binary people are at a much higher risk of developing an AAA.
Screening is available to those aged 65+ who are registered as male with their GP, and have not been previously been screened. If you are aged over 65 and are a trans woman, non-binary or gender diverse individual who was assigned-male at birth and have changed your gender marker from male, you should still contact your GP or the AAA screening office for NI to access the programme.
People assigned female at birth can also develop an AAA though this is often later in life and at lower rates. As a result there is currently no screening programme in NI for people assigned female at birth. Trans men and non-binary people (AFAB) who have changed their gender marker to male will be invited to AAA screening.
Where can I get more information or support around screening?
You can contact the Cancer Champions Team at The Rainbow Project for specialist information on accessing screening as an LGBTQIA+ person.
Our team can also provide advocacy if you are facing any barriers to screening, and 1:1 emotional support if you are waiting on test results, or not sure of next steps.
Call 028 9031 9030 for the Belfast line or 028 7128 3030 for Derry/Londonderry. Alternatively, you can email info@rainbow-project.org.
You can also call the Macmillan Support Line for free confidential suport for people living with cancer and their loved ones – 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00.
