This Breast Cancer Awareness Month a senior doctor for the NHS North East and Yorkshire region is encouraging women to take up the offer of breast screening and make an appointment – even if they received an invite weeks or months ago.

Breast screening saves lives as cancers can be diagnosed and treated earlier than they would have been without screening, says Dr Jonathan Slade, Medical Director (System Improvement and Professional Standards) for this region.

Each year, more than two million women in the UK have breast screening, leading to the detection of around 21,000 cancers and 1,300 women’s lives being saved. Screening takes only a few minutes and helps find breast cancers at an early stage when they are too small to see or feel.

Dr Slade (pictured) says women of all ages should be ‘breast aware’.

“Get to know how your breasts look and feel at different times and if you notice any abnormal changes, or you are concerned, don’t hesitate to contact your GP practice,” Dr Slade says. “It is important you continue to look at and check your breasts regularly, even if you have just had a mammogram.”

Breast screening services are more accessible than ever, he added, and in addition to hospitals, mobile screening vans are available in convenient community locations such as supermarket car parks.

The NHS recommends women take a ‘TLC’ approach:

• TOUCH your breasts. Can you feel anything new or unusual?
• LOOK for changes. Does anything look different?
• CHECK any new or unusual changes with your GP.

Anyone invited for breast screening but who missed or didn’t book an appointment may still contact their local NHS breast screening service to arrange one. To book an appointment, women can simply contact their local NHS breast screening service to arrange a suitable time, regardless of when they were invited.

Manveet Basra, Head of Public Health and Wellbeing at Breast Cancer Now, said: “It’s so important to be breast aware and get to know ‘your normal’ and understand what’s new or different for you. While most breast changes — including breast lumps — are not cancer, it’s important to get any new or unusual changes checked by your GP. On the occasions it is breast cancer, the sooner it is diagnosed, the better the chances of treatment being successful.

“Checking your breasts only takes a few minutes. It could be while getting dressed, showering or putting on moisturiser. Check your whole breast area, armpits and up to your collarbone (upper chest) for changes.”

To book an appointment and find your nearest screening provider, contact your local NHS breast screening service here or for more information about the NHS Breast Screening Programme, please visit. See also the Breast Cancer Now website for more information.