Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance is reminding women across Humber and North Yorkshire to attend their breast screening appointments when invited, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in England, but regular breast screening can find breast cancer before you notice any signs or symptoms. Finding cancer early can make treatment more likely to be successful.
Anyone registered with a GP as female is routinely invited for NHS breast screening every three years from the age of 50 until their 71st birthday, with first invitations usually arriving between the ages of 50 and 53.
Women who have missed an appointment, or received an invitation but not booked, can still contact their local NHS breast screening service to arrange one. Women aged 71 and over can also request screening every three years.
Breast screening appointments involve a mammogram – an X-ray of the breasts – which takes just a few minutes. The whole appointment should take no longer than around 30 minutes. While screening can be uncomfortable or painful for some women, the discomfort should not last long, and women can ask to stop at any time.
Breast screening does not replace being aware of changes to your breasts or chest. Cancer can develop between mammograms, and screening does not detect every cancer. Anyone who notices a change that is not normal for them should contact their GP surgery rather than waiting for a screening invitation.
Lucy Turner, Managing Director of Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an important opportunity to remind people about the value of early detection. If you receive an invitation for breast screening, please take the time to attend or rearrange your appointment if you have missed it. It could make a real difference.
“It’s also important to know what is normal for your body and to contact your GP if you notice any unusual changes.”
For more information about NHS breast screening, including who is eligible, what happens at an appointment and how to find a local service, visit www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram/.