The NHS Breast Screening Programme began in 1988. It offers free breast screening to all women aged 50 - 70 years for breast screening once every three years. The Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) outlined a further age expansion to include women aged 47-49 and 71-73. This will be phased in from 2010.
Nationally the programme screens 2 million women each year and diagnoses about 16,500 breast cancers annually.
The aim of breast screening is to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, often before the woman is aware of any problem. Early detection may mean simpler and more successful treatment. Scientific evidence shows that regular breast screening, between the ages of 50 - 70 years, reduces the death rate from breast cancer. Currently the NHS Breast Screening Programme saves an estimated 1400 lives each year in England.
If you are a woman aged 53 - 70 years old and have not had a mammogram in the last 36 months, you can call the Breast Screening Service directly on 020 8383 6644 to arrange an appointment. You can also change & cancel breast screening appointments online at West of london Breast Screening Service .
If you have had a mammogram privately, please can you let us know by telephone or providing us with a copy of your result.