Types of cancer

Early detection, regular screenings, and knowing the signs of cancer can help save lives. By understanding your body, attending routine health checks, and making informed lifestyle choices, you can take proactive steps to protect your health.

Breast cancer forms in breast tissue. Breast tissue is not only in your breasts, it goes all the way up to your collarbone and under your armpit. Everyone has breast tissue – people of all ages, races and genders. If breast cancer is diagnosed early, it can be treated successfully.

The best way to spot early signs of breast cancer is to attend routine and regular mammogram screening and to regularly check your breasts for changes.

Breast screening (mammogram) is an x-ray of your breasts that checks for cancers that are too small to see or feel. Anyone registered with an NHS doctor as female will be invited for breast screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 71.

You may get a referral for more tests or to see a specialist at a breast clinic if your doctor thinks you have symptoms that could be cancer. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.

Breast Cancer Now has released information packs for during and after breast cancer treatment.

Your cervix connects your womb to your vagina. Anyone with a cervix can get cervical cancer. Though it can affect people of any age, it is most common between the ages of 30-34.

Cervical screening, which used to be called a smear test, is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It’s offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.

There is currently no screening for ovarian cancer, so it is important that you know how to spot early signs and symptoms.

Ovarian cancer – the facts – @talkswithdrsesay

Vaginal cancer is a very rare cancer that’s found anywhere in the vagina. Vaginal cancer is nearly always caused by an infection from certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is important that young people receive the vaccination that prevents this virus.

Vaginal cancer is often found and prevented by attending cervical screening, which aims to find and treat abnormalities before they turn into cancer.

Vulval cancer is rare in people under 50 who have not yet gone through menopause.

Womb cancer is cancer that affects the womb. It’s most common in women who’ve been through menopause.