Breast Cancer Screening:
If You Have Been Invited, GO
Why attending your mammogram matters, and what to do if you have missed it
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a good time to make breast screening a priority. Life is busy, and appointments can be inconvenient, easy to forget or pushed down the list. But if you have received an invitation for a mammogram, it is worth making the time to attend.
The reason is simple. Breast screening can find breast cancer at an early stage, sometimes before there is anything you can see or feel yourself. And the earlier breast cancer is found, the more likely treatment is to be successful.
In the United Kingdom, breast screening is estimated to prevent approximately 1,300 deaths from breast cancer every year.
The Invitation
In England, women registered with a GP are automatically invited for their first breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53. After that, invitations are sent every three years until your 71st birthday. Women aged 71 and over can still choose to have screening every three years, but they must arrange it themselves.
So when that invitation arrives, do not set it aside and forget about it.
You may feel well, which is why screening matters
You do not need to have a lump or notice a change in your breasts to attend. Screening is designed to look for early signs of breast cancer that may be too small to see or feel.
This is one reason the screening programme is so valuable. It can detect something that might otherwise be missed.
This is one reason the screening programme is so valuable. It can detect something that might otherwise be missed.
What about the radiation?
It is understandable to have questions about radiation. Mammograms use X-rays, but the dose is very low. Modern digital mammography also uses less radiation than older film-screen systems.
The risk from the radiation used during screening is considered very small, and the benefits of breast screening are considered to outweigh the possible risks. For many women, knowing this may make it easier to attend without worrying about the mammogram itself.
Missed your appointment? Rebook it.
If the suggested date does not work, reschedule.
If you missed an appointment for any reason, you still have a chance to reschedule. Use the details in your letter to contact your local NHS breast screening service and rebook. You can also ask to change your appointment location if another screening centre is more convenient.
Beyond Screening: Be Breast Aware
Having a clear mammogram is reassuring, but it does not mean you should stop paying attention to your breasts. Breast screening does not detect every breast cancer.
If you notice a new or unusual change in your breast(s), contact your GP as soon as you can. It may be nothing to worry about, but it is always better to have a change checked.
If you have been invited, go.
If you missed it, rebook it.
And if there is a woman in your life who keeps putting her appointment off, send this to her.
Better still, offer to go with her.
This article is not medical advice. The information contained in this article has been designed for educational and informational purposes only. It is provided solely to enable you to make your own choices. No material in this article is a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek your doctor’s advice or a qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding your health and wellness.
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