Quarter of women still missing breast cancer screening

7 hours ago

The NHS said breast cancer screening could detect the disease before it became apparent

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Image shows two medical staff sitting in front of a computer looking at an X-Ray from a mammogram — The NHS said breast cancer screening could detect the disease before it became apparent

Over a quarter of eligible women in the North West are missing breast cancer screening appointments.

The NHS said while uptake had improved slightly in the last year, 28.9% of women were still missing the potentially life-saving tests.

Breast screening can detect cancer before people may notice any signs and symptoms, and women are invited for the first time between the ages of 50 and 53, then every three years after that until they are 71.

Dr Paula Cowan, a GP and the regional medical director for primary care at NHS England in the North West, said "some people may be reluctant to come forward for a number of different reasons" but that "breast screening... detect cancer at an early stage".

The NHS encourages women to continue to check their breasts regularly and to get any unusual changes to how they look and feel checked out by their GP.

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Quarter of women still missing breast cancer screening

Concern at fall in breast screening appointments