A new drive has been launched to encourage thousands of women to attend NHS breast cancer screening appointments.
Latest figures show that despite a small increase in uptake last year, more than a third of women did still not take up the offer of a mammography.
In 2022/23 64.6% of the almost 3 million women aged 50 to 70 years invited for screening attended, up from 62% the previous year, NHS figures show.
Among those invited to breast screening for the first time, 46.3% did not take up the offer and go to an appointment.
Data also shows regional disparities with 68% uptake of screening in the South East but 55% in London.
Screening led to cancers being detected in almost 19,000 women across England last year, which otherwise may not have been diagnosed and treated until a later stage, NHS England said.
It comes as a Digital Transformation of Screening initiative over the next three years should make it easier for women to book and manage their appointments.
Breast screening will be one of the first programmes to benefit from the IT upgrade, with more tailored communications and more booking options for women, including online and call centre booking, NHS England added.
Eligible women will usually be invited for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53 and then every three years until their 71st birthday.
Last year NHS England encouraged thousands of women at high risk of breast cancer to see their GP about whether they would benefit from taking anastrozole.
A large UK study recently found that most women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer today can expect to become long-term survivors.
But waiting times for referral for suspected breast cancer have been under particular pressure in some places as hospitals struggle to manage elective activity.
Dr Louise Wilkinson, consultant radiologist and National Specialist Advisor for Breast Screening at NHS England, said around one in seven women would be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime
‘We know that lives are saved when cancers are caught early. I know life gets busy, but I would urge anyone who has received a breast screening invitation – even if you received the invite weeks or months ago – to put your health at the top of your to-do list and book an appointment at your local screening service or mobile unit. It could save your life.’
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: ‘We’re making it as easy as possible to attend appointments and screening rates are rising, but there are still too many women missing out so I urge everyone receiving that text invite or that letter to book a check-up – it could be lifesaving.’
READERS' COMMENTS [3]
Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles
Professor M Baum (breast Surgeon) is one of many questioning the science re breast cancer screening. In Switzerland they have stopped routine screening. This weeks BMJ reports atypia detected during screening have a low risk of cancer in the short term and does not justify the current management guidelines.
Some are harmed, some benefit; it’s difficult to know retrospectively and impossible prospectively.
Choosing not to be screened may be an entirely reasonable decision.
All women should be offered screening, and information to make a decision.
But the insistence on increasing uptake is patronising, arrogant and dictatorial.
I guess this is my fault also