What is breast screening?
Cancer screening involves testing apparently healthy people for early signs of cancer.
Breast screening uses a test called mammography which involves taking x-rays of the breasts. Screening can help to find breast cancers early when they are too small to see or feel. These cancers are usually easier to treat than larger ones.
It is important to remember that screening will not prevent you from getting breast cancer but aims to find early breast cancers.
Overall, the breast screening programme finds cancer in around 9 out of every 1,000 women having screening (Cancer Research UK, 2024)
Find out more information by visiting Cancer Research UK or the NHS Breast Screening pages.
It is important that if you see any changes to your breasts that you are seen by your GP surgery, do not wait for your breast screening invitation.
If you have not been sent a letter
Contact your local breast screening service if:
- you’ve not been invited for breast screening by the time you are 53 and think you should have been
- it’s been more than 3 years since your last appointment and you think you’re overdue
Find your nearest breast screening services.
