Overview

Population-based screening is an organised, systematic and integrated process of testing for signs of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions in populations without obvious symptoms. Programs target specific populations and/or age groups where evidence shows screening to be most effective. 

Cancer screening Quarterly data

Latest rates, trends & data visualisations.

Featured reports

Latest findings

More than 4.2 million cervical screening participants aged 25–74 in 2018–2021

43.8% of the 5.8 million people invited to screen between January 2019 and December 2020 participated in the NBCSP

77% of people who have previously participated in the NBCSP participated again in 2019–2020

In 2018, of all breast cancer cases in women aged 50–74, 49% were detected through BreastScreen Australia

In 2020, 60% of breast cancers detected through BreastScreen Australia for participants aged 50–74 were small

Screen-detected bowel cancers less likely to cause death than bowel cancers diagnosed in people never invited to screen

Related information regarding cancer outcomes can be found under Cancer.