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Neasden, Greenhill Park & St Andrews Medical Centres

Neasden Medical Centre, 21 Tanfield Avenue, Neasden, London, NW2 7SA. Tel - 0208 208 0306

Greenhill Park Surgery, Greenhill Park, London, NW10 9AR. Tel - 0208 838 3100

St Andrews Medical Centre, Greenhill Park, London, NW10 9AR. Tel -  0208 459 7755

Out of hours: 111

 

Cancer Screening

Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer is a term used to describe cancer in the colon, rectum or the small bowel.

The symptoms of bowel cancer can include:

  • Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your stools
  • A change in normal bowel habits to diarrhoea or looser stools, lasting longer than 4 to 6 weeks
  • A lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or abdomen (more commonly on the right side)
  • A feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you needed to pass a bowel motion)
  • Losing weight
  • Pain in your abdomen or back passage
  • A lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)

Because bowel tumours can bleed, cancer of the bowel often causes a shortage of red blood cells. This is called anaemia and may cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness. Bowel Screening is undertaken locally at St Marks Hospital. You can watch a video about the programme here: https://www.stmarksbowelscreen.co.uk/

Bowel cancer screening

How do I get a screening kit?

If you are aged 60-69 years, you will be sent your screening invitation automatically through the post. All you need to do is make sure that your GP has your correct address.

‘People aged 70 years and over or under the age of 60, who wish to be screened, should request a kit. Simply telephone the free helpline on 0800 707 60 60.’

Macmillan cancer support

Have questions about cancer? Visit the website, or call 0808 808 000 free (Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm).

Breast Screening

The National Breast Screening Programme was introduced in 1988 as an early detection service for breast cancer. It states that all women who are aged between 50 – 70 years of age will be routinely invited for free breast screening every three years. The programme is very successful and currently saves around 1,400 lives per year.

Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage, often before there are any symptoms. To do this, an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment. When women are invited for their mammogram depends on which GP they are registered with, not when their birthday is.

The screening office runs a rolling programme which invites women by area. The requirement is that all women will receive their first invitation before their 53rd birthday, but ideally when they are 50.  If you are under 50 and concerned about any aspect of breast care, please contact the surgery to make an appointment with your GP.

Cervical screening test

Cervical screening, or smear test, is a method of detecting abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells in the cervix in order to prevent cervical cancer. The cervix is the entrance to the womb from the vagina. Cervical screening is recommended every three years for women aged 25 to 49 and every five years for women aged 50 to 64 or more frequently if smear results indicates abnormal changes.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer; it is a test to check the health of the cells of the cervix. Most women’s test results show that everything is normal, but for 1 in 20 women the test will show some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.

Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells may go back to normal on their own. However, in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming cancerous.

Our nurses are qualified to carry out cervical screening and tests in the form of cervical smears. In order to have a cervical smear the patient must have received a letter requesting that they have a cervical smear and the appointment must please be made for when the patient is not menstruating.

These appointments typically take around 10 minutes. For any further information or to book an appointment, please call the surgery.

Useful links

NHS Choices – Cervical Screening

Practice Information

Neasden, Greenhill Park & St Andrews Medical Centres

Practice Opening hours

The practice is open during the following times:

Neasden Medical Centre

Monday 08:00-18:30
Tuesday 08:00-18:30
Wednesday 08:00-18:30
Thursday 08:00-18:30
Friday 08:00-18:30
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Greenhill Park Surgery

Monday 08:00-18:30
Tuesday 08:00-18:30
Wednesday 08:00-18:30
Thursday 08:00-18:30
Friday 08:00-18:30
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

St Andrews Medical Centre

Monday 08:00-18:30
Tuesday 08:00-18:30
Wednesday 08:00-18:30
Thursday 08:00-18:30
Friday 08:00-18:30
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

Practice News

SAFE SURGERY

We are proud to be a safe surgery for everyone in our community, and pledge to ensure that everyone in our community receives the quality healthcare they are entitled to. In partnership with Doctors of the World UK, we will ensure that our practice offers a welcoming space for everyone who seeks to use our […]

Bowel Screening Update

Patients whose bowel screening appointment was delayed recently due to the coronavirus pandemic will be send a letter from NHS England. These patients will receive a home testing kit in April 2021. NHS England will extend the bowel cancer screening programme to 50-59 year olds. These patients will also be sent a home testing kit […]