Looking after your body and knowing what’s ‘normal’ for you can help you spot changes as early as possible. Actively participating in health screening programmes allows you to take preventative measures and, if necessary, have the most time possible to receive treatment.

The NHS offers three cancer screening programmes: cervical, breast, and bowel. The NHS also offers vaccination programmes which are important for keeping people healthy and preventing diseases in our community. They need to be given on time for the best protection.

An NHS Health Check is a free check-up of your cardiovascular health. It can tell you whether you’re at higher risk of getting certain health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or stroke.

This screening programme is targeted at 40-74 year olds as this is the best time to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease and heart disease. The check informs you about your potential risks so you can make positive changes to reduce your future risks. Everyone who is eligible may receive an invitation every five years, so when yours arrives make sure you don’t miss the opportunity.

When checking your breasts, the texture should be relatively similar throughout, with some natural lumpiness that feels similar on both sides. The skin on your breasts should appear smooth and even, without noticeable redness, irritation, or unusual skin texture changes.

How to check your breasts

For further information on breast health:

Everyone’s vulva is unique, and it’s important to know what’s normal for you so you can be aware of any changes – no matter how small.

Abnormal vaginal bleeding and blood-stained discharge can be a sign of cancer. While most people with unusual bleeding won’t have cancer, tracking your period will help you spot any unusual symptoms if you need to talk to your doctor.

For further information on periods:

It’s equally important to be aware of changes in your body if you are trans or non-binary, and to attend any screening appointments you are invited to.

Looking after your body and knowing what’s ‘normal’ for you can help you spot changes as early as possible.

You can help look after yourself by:

The key to a healthy diet is to eat the right amount of calories for how active you are so you balance the energy you consume with the energy you use.

Taking good care of your mental wellbeing can stop day-to-day changes in your emotional and mental health becoming more difficult to manage.

Access Wellbeing offers person-centred support for anyone aged 18 and over, providing early help to prevent concerns from escalating.

The Access Wellbeing hubs in Boscombe, Poole and Weymouth provide a welcoming space for members of the local community to find support on the issues that matter to you, including mental health, finances, work and housing.

Stopping smoking increases your chances of living a longer and healthier life. You’ll feel the benefits from the day you quit. Not only will you to start to save money but you’ll experience a reduced risk of:

Reducing your alcohol intake can do wonders for your health.

If you are concerned about your drug use, support is available.

Dorset has some excellent resources to help you stay fit and healthy.

Find a trusted health and wellbeing app in the ORCHA Dorset app library:

For further information on how to live well, visit Live Well Dorset and Active Dorset:

The NHS offers three cancer screening programmes: cervical, breast, and bowel. Depending on your age and risk, you may be invited to a screening appointment to check for cancer and other diseases. You do not need to have symptoms to attend a screening appointment.

If you do have symptoms you think may be cancer, you can still be tested. If you notice any changes to your body, or have any concerns, speak to your doctor.

Vaccinations are important for keeping people healthy and preventing diseases in our community. They need to be given on time for the best protection.

If you or someone you care for have missed a vaccination, contact your general practice surgery to catch up.

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.

Trans and non-binary people assigned female at birth who are registered with a doctor as male are not routinely invited for breast screening but should request screening via their surgery.

Breast screening may be done at a breast screening clinic, often within a hospital or at a mobile breast screening unit – these could be in lots of different locations, such as in a supermarket car park. You will usually get instructions on how to find the clinic or screening unit when you book your appointment.

The mobile screening units in Dorset are not accessible for those who cannot climb stairs, nor are they suitable for those with significant learning disabilities.  If you get in contact with the Static unit in Poole, an appointment can be tailored to your individual needs.

Breast screening saves about 1 life from breast cancer for every 200 women who are screened. This adds up to about 1,300 lives saved from breast cancer each year in the UK.

Breast screening saves lives: hear stories

Depending on your age and risk, you may be invited to a breast screening appointment to check for cancer and other diseases. The first invitation will arrive sometime between your 50th and 53rd birthday.  It’s important to attend these screenings when you’re invited, as they can help pick up on symptoms early.

If you are trans or non-binary people assigned female at birth and not registered at a surgery as female you will not receive a letter inviting you for screening, so should make an appointment with your doctor’s surgery.

Remember, breast screening is for people who do not have symptoms. If you have symptoms or have noticed anything that is not normal for you, tell your doctor – don’t wait for a cancer screening invitation.

For further information on breast health and breast cancer:

Cervical screening, sometimes known as a smear test, is a way of checking the health of your cervix and can help prevent cervical cancer and find abnormal cells that cause other cancers.

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

For further information on cervical cancer, visit our page on cancer:

Everyone with a cervix aged between 25-64 will be invited to book a free screening appointment every 3 to 5 years.  You can do this through your doctor or your local sexual health clinic.

Trans and non-binary people assigned female at birth who are registered with a doctor as male are not routinely invited for cervical screening but should request screening if they retain their cervix.

Should I go for cervical screening? – Cancer Research UK

Remember, cancer screening is for people who do not have symptoms. If you have symptoms or have noticed anything that is not normal for you, tell your doctor – don’t wait for a cancer screening invitation.

Don’t fear the smear – what happens when you attend a cervical screening?

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer, it’s a test to help prevent cancer. During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix. The sample is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. These are called “high risk” types of HPV.

If these types of HPV are not found, you do not need any further tests. If these types of HPV are found, the sample is checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. These can be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer. The nurse or doctor will tell you when you can expect your results letter.

Even if you have had your HPV vaccine, you should still attend your cervical screening appointment.

During your screening a small sample of cells is taken from your cervix for testing by a nurse or doctor (usually female). This video will show you what happens at your cervical screening appointment.

Cervical screening – how it’s done

Don’t fear the smear: Answering the embarrassing questions

When booking your appointment with your doctor you can specifically ask for a female doctor or nurse if that would make you more comfortable, you can also have a family member, friend or chaperone present during the screening. You can even book a double appointment so you have more time to relax. The best way to manage nerves before your cervical screening is to talk through any concerns with your doctor and then with the doctor or nurse who will be conducting the examination, as they will put you at ease as best they can.

Bowel cancer can affect anyone, whatever your age, gender, ethnicity or where you live and although Bowel Screening is not specific only to women – it is included here as it is part of the free NHS Screening program every 2 years from around the age of 50 to 75.

After you are 75, you can ask for a screening test every two years by contacting the bowel cancer screening programme on 0800 707 6060.

Your bowel is inside your body and connects your stomach to your bottom and the bowel takes away the waste your body doesn’t need.

The bowel screening programme helps to spot cancer before any symptoms appear or at an early stage, when it’s more likely to be treatable. Research shows that more than 9 in 10 people survive bowel cancer when it’s diagnosed at the earliest stage.

Screening can also find polyps (non-cancerous growths) which can become bowel cancer over time, allowing them to be removed before they can develop further.

Usually around your 50th-52nd birthday, if you are registered with the NHS, you will receive the screening test in the post.  For the test, you’ll collect a small amount of poo. This is sent to a lab where they’ll test for blood in your poo.

After you’ve posted your test, you’ll get your test results in about two weeks.

Most people will be told that nothing more is needed to be done until their next screening. This means that you don’t need any further tests and that you’ll receive another screening kit in 2 years.

If you experience any symptoms of bowel cancer, you shouldn’t wait for your next screening test, talk to your doctor.

What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

Some people will be told that further tests are needed. This means a small amount of blood was found in your poo sample. This doesn’t mean you have cancer, but it’s important to find out what is causing the bleeding. You’ll be offered more tests, such as a colonoscopy.

Having the recommended vaccinations during pregnancy, and after your baby is born, is one of the most effective things that you can do to reduce the risk of vaccine preventable infections for you and your baby.

As you get older, it’s recommended you get certain vaccines to reduce the risk of ill health. These include:

If you’re starting college or university, you should make sure you’ve already had:

This protects against serious infections like meningitis. You can still ask your doctor for this vaccine until your 25th birthday.

There are often outbreaks of mumps and measles at universities. If you have not previously had two doses of MMR, you can still ask your doctor for the vaccine.

This helps protect against genital warts and cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), such as cervical cancer.

Some vaccines are only available on the NHS for groups of people who need extra protection.

Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for people who are at high risk of contracting hepatitis B or who have been exposed to hepatitis B. Most people who need the hepatitis B vaccine can have it, including if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Additional vaccines are recommended for some people living with an underlying health condition:

Anyone registered with an NHS doctor as female will be invited for breast screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 71.

Trans and non-binary people assigned female at birth who are registered with a doctor as male are not routinely invited for breast screening but should request screening via their surgery.

Breast screening may be done at a breast screening clinic, often within a hospital or at a mobile breast screening unit – these could be in lots of different locations, such as in a supermarket car park. You will usually get instructions on how to find the clinic or screening unit when you book your appointment.

The mobile screening units in Dorset are not accessible for those who cannot climb stairs, nor are they suitable for those with significant learning disabilities.  If you get in contact with the Static unit in Poole, an appointment can be tailored to your individual needs.

Everyone with a cervix aged between 25-64 will be invited to book a free screening appointment every 3 to 5 years.  You can do this through your doctor or your local sexual health clinic.

Trans and non-binary people assigned female at birth who are registered with a doctor as male are not routinely invited for cervical screening but should request screening if they retain their cervix.

Bowel cancer can affect anyone, whatever your age, gender, ethnicity or where you live and although Bowel Screening is not specific only to women – it is included here as it is part of the free NHS Screening programme every 2 years from around the age of 50 to 75.

After you are 75, you can ask for a screening test every two years by contacting the bowel cancer screening programme on 0800 707 6060.

For information on the vaccinations offered to your child and when they’ll be offered from reception age to Year 11, visit the Dorset school-age immunisation service:

For general information on NHS vaccinations and when to have them: