Cambridgeshire women urged to keep screening date and regularly check their breasts

With figures showing that one in seven women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime – there is a renewed plea for women to attend their NHS screening invitation.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the team at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust’s breast unit has issued a timely reminder for patients to keep their screening appointments.

There is also a reminder for women to be aware of potential signs of cancer, with statistics revealing that over half of UK women do not check their breasts regularly.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, with the NHS offering free screening to women aged between 50-70 every three years.

Research shows that screening – used to find breast cancers at an early stage when they are too small to see or feel - saves on average one life from breast cancer for every 200 women who are screened.

That’s around 1,300 lives saved from breast cancer each year in the UK.

Jo Greene is the Trust’s Breast Screening Office Manager, based at Peterborough City Hospital – which issues around 20,000 screening invitation letters each year.

She said: “Raising awareness of breast cancer – in women and men – is important, particularly during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We would urge anyone who has been invited to attend breast screening to keep their appointment.”

Trust statistics for 2023/2-4

• Invited for screening: 15,454
• Attended for screening: 11,340
• Recalled for assessment (further investigation): 475
• Cancers diagnosed (as a result of screening): 125

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by Breast Cancer Now

• 53% of women questions said they would report any new or unusual breast changes to their GP

• The percentage of women checking their breasts regularly seems to be dropping, from 49% in 2022 to 45% in 2024

• 11% of women reported never having checked their breasts

Senior Breast Care Practitioner Nikita Copestake added: “As part of their regular breast care routine, we would like to remind women about the importance of checking their breasts on a monthly basis.

“Checking your breasts only takes a few minutes. Everyone will have their own way of touching and looking for changes, but remember to check the whole breast area, including your upper chest and armpits. Women with any concerns or changes should contact their GP in the first instance and they will refer to your local breast unit if required.”

Around 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK – that’s one every 10 minutes - and around 400 new cases of breast cancer in men are recorded each year.

As well as on-site breast screening within a hospital setting, mobile screening vehicles also regularly visit Stamford and Rutland Hospital and many other venues within the local community.

To find out what you can expect at your appointment at the Trust visit the website.

For more information on Breast Cancer Awareness Month ways to get involved – including the annual Wear It Pink event on Friday, October 18 visit the Breast Cancer Awareness Month website.