Fenland women urged to get life-saving breast screening

Women in Fenland are being urged to take part in the life-saving breast screening programme as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as data shows one in three local women do not respond to their invitation.

Nationally over 55,900 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Breast cancer is the most common cancer to be diagnosed in women, with 55,500 new cases each year.

Cancer is much more treatable when it is caught at an early stage, so the NHS invites women aged 50-71 for a breast screening every three years. By detecting cancer early, the screening saves lives.

Locally, around two in three women respond to their invitation to get screened within six months of being invited – but one in three women does not take up their invitation within this timeframe. The local NHS is now calling on all women who have yet to accept their invitation, to book their appointment right away.

A breast screening appointment only takes around 30 minutes. During your appointment you will get four ‘mammograms’ – X-rays of your breasts – which will be carried out by a female mammographer.

The X-rays themselves only take a few minutes, and you will usually receive the results of your mammograms in the post within two weeks.

Dr Stuti Mukherjee, clinical lead for cancer with NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, said: “One in three eligible women in our area is currently missing out on the breast cancer screening, which saves 1,300 women’s lives every year.

“If you’ve been invited to get your breast cancer screening, please use the details within the invitation to book your appointment now. The entire appointment only takes 30 minutes, and it could save your life.”

To find out more about breast screenings, including top tips for your appointment, visit breast screening (mammogram) via the NHS website.