Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October 2024
Eligibility: In England, breast screening is offered to individuals registered as female* between ages 50 and 71. The first invite is offered to women between ages 50 to 53, and they are then offered screening every 3 years until age 71. Females aged 71 or over can self-refer every 3 years. The breast screening test is a mammogram, which is done by a female mammographer at a clinic or mobile breast screening unit. Women who do not attend (DNA) or do not respond (DNR) to their appointment remain eligible for screening and can contact BSPs at any point to request screening. People can opt out if they do not want to receive screening invitations.
*Trans women, trans men and non-binary people registered as male are not routinely invited but can request breast screening.
- Breast screening saves lives as cancers can be diagnosed and treated earlier than they would have been without screening, often before you can even see or feel any changes to your breasts yourself. All women aged from 50 up to their 71st birthday are invited for free NHS breast screening.
- It’s understandable some women are anxious about attending their breast screening appointment and your mammographer will do everything she can to make the experience as comfortable as possible for you.
- If you have been invited for breast screening but missed or did not book an appointment you can still contact your local NHS breast screening service to arrange one, even if you were invited weeks, months or years ago.
- Breast screening services are more accessible than ever. As well as hospitals, mobile screening vans are available in convenient community locations, such as supermarket car parks.
- Women of all ages should be ‘breast aware’. Get to know how your breasts normally look, you will be more likely to spot any changes that might be signs of breast cancer. If you are concerned, do not hesitate to contact your GP practice.
- It is important that you continue to look at and check your breasts regularly, even if you have just had a mammogram.
Screening Statistics
- When diagnosed at an early stage, 98% of women survive their breast cancer for 5-years or more.
- In 2022-23, a total of 1.93 million women aged 50 to 70 (64.6%) attended screening appointments (within six months of invitation).
- Screening prevents an estimated 1,300 deaths from breast cancer each year in the UK.
- Around 4 in every 100 women are asked to come back for more tests after screening and offered care and treatment as required. Out of these 4 women, 1 will be found to have cancer.
- Screening is vital in helping the NHS identify cancers at an earlier stage and in 2022-2023 the NHS breast screening programme led to cancers being detected in 18,942 women across England in 2022-23, which otherwise may have been diagnosed and treated at a later stage.
Useful Resources
Checking your breasts or chest regularly helps you learn what looks and feels normal for you.
This makes it easier to notice any changes that could be a sign of a condition such as breast cancer. For advice, visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/how-to-check-your-breasts-or-chest/
When diagnosed at an early stage, 98% of women survive their breast cancer for 5-years or more. Regular breast screening can find breast cancer before you notice any symptoms. If you’ve been invited but missed or did not book your appointment, arrange one here: http://nhs.uk/service-search/other-health-services/breast-screening-services
Breast cancer can cause a number of signs and symptoms. Get used to checking regularly and be aware of anything that’s new or different for you. For more info: http://nhs.uk/breast-cancer
Here are three different animations from Partnership Southwark to highlight the benefits of breast screening to black women of West African heritage.