Women learn more about breast cancer

Non-Executive Director Christine Morgan officially opened the event, along with the breast screening radiographers and cancer survivor Christine Abbott

Women from around the borough learnt more about breast cancer and how the NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme works at an open day held at Nye Bevan House yesterday (Tuesday 24 August).

Radiographers gave demonstrations of the new state-of-the-art breast screening machine, known as a digital mammography unit, which takes an image of the breast using computer imaging. This machine gives a much clearer picture of the breast tissue, helping to detect for signs of cancer.

All women who are invited to a breast screening appointment will go to the new unit at Nye Bevan House, replacing the existing mobile screening service later in the year.

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Non-Executive Director, Christine Morgan, said: “Having been through the breast screening programme myself, I can understand why some women might have reservations about attending a breast screening appointment because it is unfamiliar and can be a bit scary but the new digital mammography unit is easy to get to, located in the community, in a new modern building, making the whole experience much more welcoming.

“The machine is the latest in breast screening technology meaning that our ladies will benefit from a more accurate screening programme, which will ultimately help us to save more lives.”

Breast cancer survivor Christine Abbott was also at the event to share her experience of breast screening and to encourage more women to go to their appointment.

Every woman aged between 50 and 70 in the borough will be invited to attend a breast screening appointment every three years. In some areas this age range has been extended to include women between 47 and 73, which will be rolled out across the whole borough. By extending the age range to include women between 47 and 73, in the future every woman will have been invited to attend a breast screening appointment by her 50th Birthday.

Each year 45,500 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the UK but if found early enough 95 per cent of breast cancer patients survive.

If you have received an invitation and need to book an appointment, call the breast screening programme on 01204 390397. If you notice that you have developed some symptoms of breast cancer, such as lumps in your breast, do not wait for your next screening appointment and instead see your GP immediately.