Breast Cancer Screening Campaign
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK, with the risk increasing as you get
older. Despite this, a third of women in the West Midlands say they would be too embarrassed to
attend a mammogram, while one in six say they would ignore a screening invitation if they thought
they had no symptoms. Regular breast screening is one of the best ways to detect cancer that is
too small to feel or see yourself and saves around 1,300 lives each year in the UK.
Women aged 50 to 71 who are registered as a female will be invited for NHS breast screening
every 3 years. The first invitation will be sent automatically between the ages of 50 and 53 by
post.
Patients should never wait for symptoms before booking a screening, it’s important to be aware of
the signs of breast cancer including:
- Lumps, swelling or pain in the breast or armpit.
- Changes in shape of the breasts or nipples.
- Changes to the skin or discharge from your nipples.
For more details on symptoms, please click here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer-in-women/symptoms-of-breast-cancer-in-women/
Breast screening can detect cancer long before it can be felt and finding cancer early can improve
treatment success, even if nothing is found screening provides reassurance. When the invitation
arrives, save the date – it could save your life.
For more information on NHS breast screening, please click here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-screening-mammogram/