We want to help everyone in the city understand how important cancer screening is so that people live healthier and happier lives.
We work together with our health and wellbeing partners, to raise awareness and educate residents about the signs and symptoms of cancer and different cancer screening programmes available.
Below you can find out more information about:
- Answer Cancer
- Signs to look out for
- Cancer screening
Answer Cancer
We support and promote Answer Cancer.
Answer Cancer is the Greater Manchester Screening and Engagement Programme. It is run by a voluntary sector partnership that works to improve cancer awareness and increase uptake of cancer screening across Greater Manchester.
You can view the work carried out by Answer Cancer on their website.
Have you noticed any of the following symptoms?
- Difficulty swallowing
- Ongoing indigestion or heartburn
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
- Bringing up food after eating
- Constant pain in your upper tummy, chest or back
Stop! Look! Listen... to your body.
Finding upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer early makes a big difference and could save your life.
If your symptoms continue for more than three weeks get it checked out by your GP practice!
#BePersistentAsYourSymptoms
Signs of cancer
Be aware of the signs of cancer. Treatment is more effective the earlier it begins.
If you get any of the signs and symptoms below and they continue or last for more than 3 weeks, please make sure to see your doctor right away. If the symptoms continue after seeing your GP then please contact your doctor again and “be as persistent as your symptoms!”.
Things to look out for:
- An unusual lump or swelling anywhere on your body
- A change in the size, shape or colour of a mole
- A sore that won’t heal after several weeks
- A mouth or tongue ulcer that lasts longer than three weeks
- A cough or croaky voice that lasts longer than three weeks
- Persistent difficulty swallowing or indigestion
- Problems passing urine
- Blood in your bowel motions
- A change to more frequent bowel motions that lasts longer than four to six weeks
- Unexplained weight loss or having night sweats
- An unexplained pain or ache that lasts longer than four weeks
- Breathlessness
- Coughing up blood
It may be nothing to worry about but acting early could save your life. For more information, visit the NHS choices website.
Did you know that around four in ten of all cancers diagnosed in the UK are caused by lifestyle and environmental factors? Tobacco smoking is by far the largest cause of cancer in the UK. Overweight and obesity is the UK’s biggest cause of cancer after smoking (Cancer Research UK).
For free, confidential and local advice on healthy lifestyles, including help for giving up smoking visit Salford's Health Improvement Connect.
Cancer screening
Early diagnosis of cancer can save lives. When cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is often more likely to be successful.
Cancer screening tests help detect the disease before symptoms have a chance to develop and some can prevent cancers too.
In the UK we have three national cancer screening programmes:
- Breast
- Bowel
- Cervical
National screening programmes
| Gender | Age | Programme | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 25 to 64 | Cervical | You will receive a letter asking you to phone or make an appointment with your GP practice or Practice Nurse. For more information please visit NHS Cervical Screening. |
| Women | 50 to 70 | Breast | You will automatically be invited for screening every three years if you are aged 50 to 70 and registered as female with your GP. If you’re aged 70 and over, you can self-refer by calling the Greater Manchester Breast Screening Service on 0161 291 4444. For more information visit NHS Breast Screening. |
| Men and women | 50 to 74 | Bowel | When you become eligible, you will first receive an invitation letter and explanatory leaflet. Your kit will follow two weeks later for you to complete at home then post to a laboratory for analysis. Until you are 74, screening is every two years. If you’re over 74 years you can request a kit to continue two yearly screening. For more information about bowel cancer screening please call the bowel cancer screening programme helpline on 0800 707 6060 or visit NHS Bowel Screening. |
Information for health professionals is available on the Cancer Research UK website.
This page was last updated on 6 May 2025