Overview

Population-based screening is an organised, systematic and integrated process of testing for signs of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions in populations without obvious symptoms. Programs target specific populations and/or age groups where evidence shows screening to be most effective.

More reports and statistics on cancer screening can be found under Cancer.

Latest findings

Screen-detected bowel cancers less likely to cause death than bowel cancers diagnosed in people never invited to screen Screen-detected breast cancers less likely to cause death than breast cancers diagnosed in never-screened women There were around 13,000 more screening mammograms performed In September 2020 than in September 2018 Participation in cervical screening was higher in HPV-vaccinated women than in unvaccinated women The number of bowel cancer screening tests did not clearly correspond with COVID-19 restrictions There were fewer cervical screening tests in 2020 but COVID-19 impact cannot yet be quantified due to program change Cancers detected by screening have better outcomes; but effects of delayed screening will not be known for some time Screen-detected cervical cancers less likely to cause death than cervical cancers diagnosed in never-screened women In April 2020, around 1,100 screening mammograms were performed, compared to more than 74,000 in April 2018

Featured reports

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Cancer screening Quarterly data

Latest rates, trends & data visualisations.

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Highlights

Screen-detected bowel cancers less likely to cause death than bowel cancers diagnosed outside the program
Participation in cervical screening was higher in HPV-vaccinated women than in unvaccinated women
Screen-detected bowel cancers were more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier cancer stage
Screen-detected breast cancers less likely to cause death than breast cancers diagnosed in never-screened women
Screen-detected cervical cancers less likely to cause death than cervical cancers diagnosed in never-screened women