More women screened for breast cancer in South East than anywhere else but many still not coming forward for potentially lifesaving offer
New breast screening figures for 2022-23 show that a total of 331,187 women aged 50 to 70 (68%) attended their screening appointments (within six months of invitation) in the South East of England – the highest uptake nationally.
The screening programme led to cancers being detected in 3,513 women across the South East in 2022-23, which otherwise may not have been diagnosed and treated until a later stage.
NHS England is calling for all women to put their health at the top of their to-do list and come forward for breast screening when invited. The call comes following a major £70 million Government investment in the Digital Transformation of Screening initiative to modernise screening services over the next three years.
The breast screening service will be one of the first to benefit, with an ambition to provide more tailored communications and more booking options for women, including online and call centre booking. This will make it easier than ever before for women to book and manage their appointments.
Dr Alison Taylor, Medical Director System Improvement and Professional Standards for NHS England South East, said: “Whilst it is good news that more women are coming forward for breast screening than anyone else in the country currently, there are still thousands who are not and it is really important that they do.
“Around one in seven women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and detecting it at an early stage helps to give people the best chance of successful treatment.
“I know life can get busy and other priorities can get in the way, but I would urge anyone who has received a breast screening invitation – even if you received the invitation weeks or months ago – to put your health at the top of your to-do list and book an appointment at your local screening service or mobile unit. It could save your life.”
Under the NHS Breast Screening Programme, eligible women will usually receive their first routine invitation for breast cancer screening between the ages of 50 and 53 and will normally be invited every three years until their 71st birthday.
NHS England is also asking women of all ages to be aware of their breast health and to know how to check themselves for cancer symptoms. Being ‘breast aware’ means getting to know how your breasts look and feel at different times and telling your doctor straight away if you notice any unusual changes.
It takes only a few minutes to perform and can help detect breast cancers at an earlier stage.
It is important that women continue to look at and check their breasts regularly, even if they have had a recent mammogram. Anyone who has noticed any abnormal changes should contact their GP as soon as possible.
Women are encouraged to use the ‘TLC’ method for checking their breasts and can visit Breast Cancer Now for more information:
- 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.
More information on NHS breast screening checks is available at www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-screening-mammogram.
Read the full report: Breast Screening Programme, England, 2022-23 – NHS Digital