Surveillance (screening) is the process of looking for evidence of a disease in people who have no symptoms. The aim of cancer surveillance is to detect tumours at an early stage when there is a better chance of a successful treatment.

A normal surveillance test result does not mean that an individual does not have cancer - it simply means that cancer was not detected. An abnormal result may indicate that an individual is at risk of cancer, and further tests are required in order to make a diagnosis.

It is worth remembering that most surveillance programmes may be harmful as well as beneficial, both through the procedure itself and through any additional investigations that may be required to confirm the presence of disease.

Surveillance and a cancer family history

Depending on the family history and referral guidelines, cancer surveillance may be recommended. It should be remembered that surveillance is not guaranteed to detect all tumours and that patients should see their GPs if they are worried about their health. Patients are encouraged to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer.

This section provides an overview of cancer surveillance relevant to patients with a family history of breast, ovarian or colorectal cancer. Links to relevant external web sites are also provided in each section. WMFACS surveillance guidelines can be found in the guidelines section.