Women 'at risk' as 10,000 fail to go to breast cancer screening

Between April 2009 and March 2010, about 10,000 women failed to take advantage of the screening by Pennine Breast Screening Service based in Bradford.

The service which covers Bradford, Airedale, Calderdale, Dewsbury and Huddersfield invited 45,465 women for their routine breast screening appointment – of which 34,543 attended.

Public health consultant with NHS Bradford and Airedale and cancer lead for West Yorkshire Greg Fell said: "If you get invited for screening, I really would urge you to go. It will provide a real peace of mind because for almost all women there will be no problem, but for the small number who do need treatment, the earlier the treatment starts, the better."

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in Britain and female breast cancer incidence rates have risen by about 50 per cent during the last 25 years.

The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every three years for all women aged 50 and over.

The Pennine Breast Screening Service, which is part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and operates out of St Luke's Hospital, sees more than 3,300 women a month at clinics throughout Airedale, Bradford, Calderdale, Dewsbury and Huddersfield.

Pennine Breast Screening Service co-ordinator Janette Griggs said: "I would encourage all women to make sure they know what is normal for you so that you are aware of any changes that occur in your breasts.

"If there is anything you are not sure about or you notice something new such as a lump, thickening, or a rash, then it's always best to see your doctor and get it checked out."

Lecturer Andrea Hall is urging more women to take up screening for breast cancer after recovering from surgery.

During her regular screening appointment last July at St Luke's hospital a malignant lump was discovered which she had not been able to feel in her breast.

Mrs Hall, who describes herself as one of the 'lucky ones' as the cancer was detected early, is appealing to women during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to make sure they get screened.

She was recalled when the Pennine Breast Screening Service noticed a suspicious area on her mammogram, which showed up as a cancerous growth during ultra-sound.

Mrs Hall, 62, from Bradford, said: "I would encourage all women to go for their screening. It doesn't hurt and can save your life.

"I always thought it could never happen to me – cancer doesn't run in my family and I believed it would be high blood pressure that would cause me problems.

"The support I received from the Pennine Breast Screening Service was absolutely brilliant.

"I never had to repeat things to different staff and they involved my husband in everything right from the start.

"They were very sympathetic, never patronising. Everything was incredibly well organised and everyone was very caring and professional.

"I was given dates for

all my appointments well in advance. Everything was explained to me thoroughly including what could happen in the long-term.

"I feel very, very lucky as they caught the cancer early and have managed to remove it all.

"If they had not caught it so early I would have faced possible further surgery – in the worst case scenario removal of my breast."

The NHS Breast Screening Programme is phasing in an extension of the age range of women eligible for breast screening to those aged 47 to 73.