Women in the 50 to 70 age bracket are being strongly encouraged to attend their breast-screening appointments, following alarming statistics that revealed more than a third failed to do so last year.
NHS England data indicates that more than two million eligible women have missed out on vital screenings over the past three years.
Breast screening, which is carried out using X-ray technology known as mammograms, is crucial for detecting cancers too small to be seen or felt. Women are initially invited for screening between the ages of 50 and 53 and will continue to receive invitations every three years until they reach 71.
Analysis of NHS England’s data showed that of the 13.05 million invitations sent out from 2018/19 to 2022/23, only 8.59 million appointments were attended within six months. Although there was an uptick in attendance last year, a staggering 35.4% of women still did not take up the offer of screening.
It is estimated by NHS England that 2.18 million eligible women have foregone screening in the last three years.
Dr Louise Wilkinson, NHS England’s national speciality adviser for breast screening and consultant radiologist, emphasised the importance of early detection: “Breast screening saves lives by allowing cancers to be identified and treated earlier – in fact, discovering breast cancer at the earliest stage may give you a 98% chance of surviving for five years or more.
“Screening can often pick up breast cancer before you can even see or feel any changes to your breasts yourself and your mammographer will do everything she can to make the experience as comfortable as possible for you, which is why I would urge anyone invited to take up the offer.”
Kathryn Cowley, 58, credits a routine mammogram in 2022 for detecting an abnormality that led to her breast cancer diagnosis. Following surgery and radiotherapy, she stresses the importance of attending appointments.
“My breast cancer journey has a positive outcome and it’s very lucky that I attended my regular breast screening,” Ms Cowley said. “I have now had my one-year follow-up mammogram and I was very relieved that this was normal.
“Attending routine screening is vital – I was fortunate that I attended my appointment and did not put it off. My mammogram detected my cancer before it could be felt, which was a game-changer.”
Even after having a mammogram, women should continue to regularly inspect their breasts. The NHS advises a “touch, look, check” (TLC) approach.
Claire Rowney, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, highlighted the urgency of the situation during Breast Cancer Awareness Month: “These figures serve as a timely reminder, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, that far too many people are missing out on the vital breast screening that saves lives from breast cancer. The stark reality is that thousands of women miss having their breast cancer detected each year. We look forward to working with NHS England to ensure breast screening services are accessible and convenient for everyone who is eligible.”
She also urged women to be proactive about their health: “We encourage eligible women to attend their breast screening appointments when invited and to regularly check their breasts to get to ‘know their normal’ and get any new or unusual breast changes checked out by a GP, including between screening appointments.”
Echoing the importance of early detection, Health minister Andrew Gwynne said: “When it comes to fighting cancer, every second counts. We know that early diagnosis leads to more effective treatment, and in many cases, can save lives. The Government is working alongside NHS England to make the shift from hospital to community, making getting tested easier than ever. I would urge anyone who is invited for a screening appointment to attend.”