Londoners are being urged to respond to their cancer screening invitations today, as the government launches its landmark National Cancer Plan with an ambitious goal to save 320,000 more lives.

Screening is one of the simplest and most effective ways to catch cancer early, when treatment is most successful. Yet too many Londoners are missing out. Whether it’s completing a bowel screening kit at home, attending a breast screening appointment, or booking a cervical screening test – acting now could be the difference between catching cancer early or finding it too late.

Karen Bonner, NHS England London Chief Nurse, said: “We know that too many people across the capital are not coming forward for screening, and we are determined to change that. Our message today is clear: if you receive a screening invitation, please respond to it. If you have new symptoms and are concerned, please contact your local GP. We are working hard to make screening more accessible across the capital, and we want every Londoner to have the best possible chance of surviving cancer.”

For bowel cancer, just 58% of eligible Londoners complete their screening. For the women eligible for breast cancer screening 62.8% come forward, while cervical screening coverage stands at 61.6%.

The National Cancer Plan sets out an ambitious target for three in four cancer patients diagnosed from 2035 to be cancer-free or living well after five years. This represents the fastest improvement in cancer outcomes this century.

The plan also includes a £2.3 billion investment to deliver 9.5 million additional tests, such as MRIs, by 2029. Where possible, Community Diagnostic Centres will operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week, bringing testing closer to where people live. London is well placed to benefit, with 14 community diagnostic centres already open across the capital—many offering evening and weekend appointments—meaning Londoners can expect faster diagnostics and more accessible cancer care in the years ahead.

Dr Tehseen Khan, GP in North East London and NHS London Clinical Advisor, said: “Screening saves lives. When cancer is caught early through screening, treatment is more likely to be successful and less invasive. I know that receiving a screening invitation can feel daunting, but I would strongly encourage every Londoner who is eligible to take up the offer.

“Whether it’s a bowel screening kit that arrives through your letterbox or an appointment for a mammogram, please don’t ignore it. A few minutes of your time could save your life.”

The National Cancer Plan also commits to enable patients to manage screening invitations, appointments and treatment plans through the NHS App by 2028.

What Londoners can do now: 

• Respond to screening invitations when they arrive

• Complete and return bowel screening kits promptly

• Attend breast and cervical screening appointments

• Speak to your GP if you have any concerns or new symptoms

Screening programmes in England include: 

• Bowel cancer screening for people aged 54-74

• Breast cancer screening for women aged 50-70

• Cervical screening for women and people with a cervix aged 25-64

• Lung cancer screening for those at higher risk

For more information about cancer screening, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-screening

Data sources:

breast-screening-programme-eng-2023-24-tab.xlsx

cervical-screening-programme-eng-2023-24-tab.xlsx

Bowel cancer screening standards data report 2023-24 – GOV.UK