The NHS has issued an urgent warning to women aged between 50 and 70 after it emerged that more than a third did not take up the offer of breast screening. NHS England said over two million eligible women have missed out on screenings in the past three years.
New data released by NHS England indicates that only 8.59 million out of 13.05 million invitations for breast-screening appointments were taken up within six months from 2018/19 to 2022/23, despite an increase in attendance last year. Nevertheless, 35.4 per cent of women still ignored the call for screening, with approximately 2.18 million women not screened in the last three years.
Dr Louise Wilkinson, NHS England’s national speciality adviser for breast screening and a consultant radiologist, said: 'Breast screening saves lives by allowing cancers to be identified and treated earlier – in fact, discovering breast cancer at the earliest stage may give you a 98% chance of surviving for five years or more. Screening can often pick up breast cancer before you can even see or feel any changes to your breasts yourself and your mammographer will do everything she can to make the experience as comfortable as possible for you, which is why I would urge anyone invited to take up the offer.'
Kathryn Cowley, 58, was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram in 2022 revealed an abnormality. She said: 'My breast cancer journey has a positive outcome and it’s very lucky that I attended my regular breast screening. Attending routine screening is vital – I was fortunate that I attended my appointment and did not put it off.'
Claire Rowney, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, said: 'These figures serve as a timely reminder, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, that far too many people are missing out on the vital breast screening that saves lives from breast cancer. We encourage eligible women to attend their breast screening appointments when invited and to regularly check their breasts to get to know their normal and get any new or unusual breast changes checked out by a GP.'
