How £3,500 of cancer tests could save your life

Of all the ways to learn you have cancer, the accidental diagnosis must be among the most frightening. To go for a routine test or a simple procedure – as the King did just two weeks ago – and come out with the news that something more sinister has been discovered is devastating, if not uncommon. Macmillan data show one in five cancers is caught when a patient is seen for something else entirely. In the past year, 66,000 cancers have been diagnosed this way. And yet the opportunity to access free, regular screenings for cancer on the NHS is still limited. 

There are national screening programmes for just three cancers: breast, bowel and cervical. Cancer charities and high-profile campaigns by people such as the late Dame Deborah James have ensured awareness of symptoms for all types of cancer has improved dramatically in recent years. And yet Cancer Research UK’s latest estimates show 20,000 cancer deaths a year in the UK are avoidable, with more screening cited as one of the key areas that need addressing. 

At the moment, to be eligible for free NHS screening, you will need to meet the age threshold for that particular cancer. You won’t be invited for a mammogram, for example, until you’re 50. Unless, of course, you go to your GP with symptoms they deem should be escalated for further tests. If you are younger, or if you are symptom-free but want to be checked for a cancer that doesn’t currently have a screening programme, your only option is to go private. 

Private diagnostics tend to be very expensive, and self-assessment health kits (of which there are infinite iterations sold by private health companies these days) ordered off the internet can be unpredictable. But if you can find paid-for screening that doesn’t break the bank, could it be worth it for the peace of mind? We weigh up your options for screening five of the most common cancers. 

Breast

What you can get on the NHS 

The national screening programme is comprehensive, inviting all women from the age of 50 to 70 who are registered with a GP for a mammogram every three years – yearly if you are at high risk. NHS England figures show that in 2023, 18,942 women were diagnosed and treated thanks to NHS breast screening check-ups. 

But what if you want to be screened sooner? Cancer Research UK says there is “little evidence to show that regular mammograms for women below the screening age would reduce deaths from breast cancer”. If you are experiencing any symptoms, however – such as a new lump, thickening in your breast or armpit, a change in the size, shape or feel of your breast, skin changes such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin, or fluid leaking from the nipple – you should go to your GP, who should examine you and is likely to refer you for an ultrasound. 

What you get if you go private 

Though rates of breast cancer in women under 40 are low (making up just 4 per cent of cases) there is some evidence that cancers in young women are on the rise. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last year found cancers of all types were on the rise for younger women (they’d gone up by 4 per cent), though not for younger men. 

If you want to pay for a breast health screening before you turn 50, Bupa offers a service for women over 40 “who are worried they may be at risk of breast cancer”. “If you’ve noticed a lump or something that isn’t normal for you,” it says, “see your GP or book a private GP appointment as soon as possible.” Its service costs £289 and includes a consultation with a GP, a mammogram and an examination. 

Lung

What you can get on the NHS 

The NHS has started offering a lung health check in some areas of England and Wales. Since 2019, smokers and former smokers who live in an area where they are offered, were between 55 and 74 and were registered with a GP, have been offered screening. 

Last June, it was announced that the programme had been successful (76 per cent of lung cancers found in those tested were caught at an earlier stage) and would be rolled out across the country, with the aim of 100 per cent coverage by March 2030. 

What you get if you go private 

Though the NHS says lung cancer is rare in people under 40, an American study published last year found that, for the first time, it was more common in women than men between the ages of 35 and 54. The American Cancer Society found that though the overall incidence of lung cancer was declining, the drop was greater among men than women. 

If you want to pay for a private lung health check, the Cromwell Hospital in west London offers a package which includes a low-dose CT scan for £1,030, plus the fees for your consultation, which vary depending on which consultant you see. It recommends you should have a lung health check “if you have a history of heavy smoking, currently smoke, and are over 50 years old”. However, it adds, “wider factors” can contribute to someone’s chances of developing lung cancer so it’s worth checking with them to see if you could benefit from screening. 

It’s worth noting that just because you are willing to pay, it doesn’t always mean a private clinic will screen you for cancer if they don’t think you are eligible. To be eligible for a private lung health check at the Royal Marsden, for example, you “must be” aged between 55 and 74 and have a history of smoking, or, if you’re under 55, have symptoms such as a persistent cough or persistent, severe chest pain. 

Prostate

What you can get on the NHS 

There is no prostate cancer screening programme in the UK because, according to Cancer Research UK, the PSA test (a blood test that measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood) is “not reliable enough”. 

Men over 50 can ask their GP for a test. You may be offered one if you have symptoms that could be caused by prostate cancer, such as needing to go to urinate more frequently. 

What you get if you go private 

In 2020, prostate cancer became the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England, overtaking breast cancer. If you want some extra reassurance, Bupa offers a prostate cancer health check for £189 which includes a GP consultation, a testicular cancer check, prostate cancer check, and a PSA blood test. 

Melanoma 

What you can get on the NHS 

There is no screening programme for melanoma. According to Cancer Research UK, it would lead to too many people having “unnecessary skin checks”. But if you notice something concerning, such as a change in a mole, your GP will examine it and may refer you to a specialist. 

What you get if you go private 

Cancer Research UK projected melanoma rates would rise by 9 per cent in the UK between 2023 and 2025. By 2040, there could be 26,500 new cases of melanoma skin cancer in this country every year. Getting moles checked out is simple. For peace of mind, you could book an annual private check-up to keep tabs on your moles. The Mole Clinic offers a full-body skin check for £175, which it recommends annually if you have moles. For £1,000, you could get a “Skin MOT” with cosmetic dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto at her Harley Street clinic, which includes an examination of any conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. 

Bowel

What you can get on the NHS 

The national bowel cancer screening programme sends you a testing kit to do at home every two years. The criteria are different depending on where you are in the country. In England, you will typically receive a screening kit when you’re 60 until you’re 74. In December, it was announced that 830,000 more people in England would receive an at-home kit as NHS England expanded its programme to people as young as 54. 

What you get if you go private 

Bowel Cancer UK says more than nine out of 10 new cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed in people over 50. But rates among young people are rising. The number of under-50s being diagnosed with the disease worldwide has increased by 80 per cent in the past three decades. For £956, Bupa offers a screening to anyone over 45. Its colon cancer screening includes a GP consultation and a CT scan to look for polyps and other signs of cancer. “If you’ve noticed a lump or something that isn’t normal for you,” it says, “see your GP or book a private GP appointment as soon as possible.”