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Screening

It is now proven that early detection and treatment can significantly improve the outcomes of cancer.

As London's premier private cancer network, HCA CancerCare has wide expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Our specialists and medical teams hold, or have recently held, posts at London’s top teaching hospitals and they have helped us to develop these cancer screens to use the latest techniques and a very high standard of assessment.

Making an appointment

Appointments for any of our cancer screens can be booked at short notice and some of our clinics are held during the evenings, to make it easier for you.

For details of clinics, times and prices and to make an appointment please contact our call centre, HCA Connect, on 0800 294 4429.

Breast screening

Breast cancer now affects 1 in every 9 women in the UK, so it is likely that you may already know a friend or a family member that has been recently diagnosed or is going through treatment. Breast screening has been proven to reduce the risk of death from breast cancer by 40%.

At HCA CancerCare we advise that you are screened regularly. The recommended age for breast screening is 40, although some women are advised to start the screening process earlier if they are at a high risk genetically. If you are over 50 or high risk, you should be screened every 12-15 months and in some cases an MRI may also be required.

At HCA CancerCare, we offer a very comprehensive breast screening service, designed for women over the age of 40 and using the latest digital mammography equipment. However, if you are younger than this, or are perhaps looking for a second opinion, then, as a private patient, you are able to have a breast screen whenever you would like.

We have one-stop breast clinics which run at times convenient to you. These are consultant-led clinics which provide rapid, often same-day diagnostics based in four of our hospitals. Some clinics are held in the evenings and you can be seen the next day.

The breast screen programme:

• You will receive a breast care awareness pack.
• A specially qualified radiographer conducts a digital mammogram which will provide a detailed image of the breast tissue
• A written report is prepared and sent to your GP - this will normally be within 10 days. The GP will make contact with you, in the event that any follow-up is required.

Bowel screening

Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the UK, behind lung cancer. The aim of HCA CancerCare’s bowel cancer screening is to detect the disease at an early stage, before patients experience symptoms, when the likelihood of successful treatment is much greater.

HCA CancerCare offers both stool tests and colonoscopies. A stool test involves examining the stool (faeces) in the lab for the presence of blood. Stool tests are easy, safe and will identify most large cancers.

A colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the large intestine. Colonoscopies allow direct visualisation of the entire bowel and the removal or sampling of any abnormalities found and can therefore detect any cancers that stool tests miss. If polyps are found during the colonoscopy they are more often than not removed at the same time, before they turn into cancers, without the need for an operation.

Prostate screening

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men. The symptoms of prostate cancer are not specific. Most commonly it is a difficulty in passing urine (although this condition also affects the majority of men after middle-age and is usually benign). In addition, many men are reluctant to discuss health concerns with other people and, as a result, prostate cancer diagnosis can be delayed.

Although there is no screening programme in place in the UK, it has been shown that early detection and intervention does increase the cure rate for prostate cancer. The majority of cases of prostate cancer are in men approaching or after retirement age. However, the incidence starts to increase after the age of 40.

At HCA CancerCare we have developed a specialist prostate screening programme which is designed for men over the age of 40 to fully assess their prostate health:

• Patients receive an information pack and complete a self-assessment questionnaire on urinary function, sexual function and general health.
• A clinical nurse specialist then conducts a urine test, blood pressure check, height and weight measurement, urinary flow rate and bladder scan.
• A Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is then carried out via a blood sample.
• A clinical examination is then undertaken by a doctor, together with a consultation about the results.

In addition to the above, there are extra, optional tests that can be included:

• External ultrasound examination of the testicles.
• Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) of the prostate gland.
• Blood analysis - full blood count, haemoglobin, urea and electrolyte balance, liver function tests, testosterone, cholesterol and lipid levels, iron and fasting glucose, serum protein assessment and gout risk test (uric acid).

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