The Scottish government has paused breast, cervical, and bowel cancer screenings in an effort to free National Health Service (NHS) resources in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published on 30 March by the Herald Scotland.
The pause in services will be reassessed in 12 weeks, the government said. Results for those who have been recently screened will be processed, and patients with symptoms of these cancers should continue to contact their physicians.
"It is not an easy decision, but the balance of risk supports the approach that we are taking,"
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in the Herald report: "If you detect any symptoms of the conditions we would normally screen for -- if you notice a lump on your breast, for example -- then you should contact your GP immediately. We will restart the screening programs that we have paused as soon as we can."
