This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, North East London Cancer Alliance is encouraging people to take up the offer of breast screening and make an appointment, even if they received their invite weeks or months ago.
Each year, more than two million people in the UK have breast screening leading to around 1,300 lives being saved, as more cancers can be diagnosed and treated earlier than they otherwise would be.
To book an appointment, simply contact your local NHS breast screening service to arrange a suitable time, regardless of when you were invited.
The NHS is also asking people of all ages to be aware of their breast health and to know how to check themselves for breast cancer symptoms. Being ‘breast aware’ means getting to know how your breasts look and feel at different times and telling your doctor straight away if you notice any unusual changes.
It is important you continue to look at and check your breasts regularly, even you have had a mammogram. Anyone who has noticed any abnormal changes to their breasts should contact their GP as soon as possible.
We encourage you to use the ‘TLC’ method for checking your breasts and can visit Breast Cancer Now for more info:
- TOUCH your breasts. Can you feel anything new or unusual?
- LOOK for changes. Does anything look different?
- CHECK any new or unusual changes with your GP.
Manveet Basra, Head of Public Health and Wellbeing at Breast Cancer Now, said: “It’s so important to be breast aware and get to know ‘your normal’ and understand what’s new or different for you. While most breast changes — including breast lumps — are not cancer, it’s important to get any new or unusual changes checked by your GP. On the occasions it is breast cancer, the sooner it is diagnosed, the better the chances of treatment being successful.
“Checking your breasts only takes a few minutes. It could be while getting dressed, showering or putting on moisturiser. Check your whole breast area, armpits and up to your collarbone (upper chest) for changes. There’s no special technique — it’s as simple as TLC: Touch, Look, Check. Breast screening is also vital in detecting breast cancer early. This is why we encourage women to attend breast screening appointments when invited and to keep checking their breasts in between mammograms.”
Breast cancer screening saves the lives of around 1,300 people every year in the UK and around 21,000 cancers are detected via this method. It takes only a few minutes to perform and helps find breast cancers at an early stage when they are too small to see or feel. To book a screening appointment and find your nearest provider, contact your local NHS breast screening service or for more information visit the NHS Breast Screening Programme in London web page. You can also watch our animated breast screening video to find out more.
