ABSTRACT
Screening which is aimed at apparently healthy individuals is different to clinical practice where individuals are seeking advice and help. Although screening has the potential through early diagnosis to save life or to improve the quality of life, it also has the potential to harm. The NHS cervical screening programme was established in 1988 when all health authorities introduced computerised call and recall systems. Cervical screening is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating precancerous changes in the cervix. Breast screening is a way of detecting breast cancers when they are very small. Those which are detected at an early stage are easier to treat and respond to a wider range of treatments. Colorectal cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK. Research has shown that screening can help to reduce death rates by diagnosing and treating bowel cancer at an early stage.
