Breast Screening

How common is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK (excluding non melanoma skin cancer) and by far the most common cancer in women.

In 2004, more than 44,100 people were diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. Most of these were women, and just over 300 were men.

1 in 9 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, most of whom will get breast cancer when they are past their menopause. However, almost 8,000 people under the age of 50yrs are diagnosed each year

Factors increasing risk of breast cancer

Family history of breast cancer
Smoking
Alcohol intake
Contraceptive pill
Periods starting at early age
Late menopause
The progesterone component of HRT therapy

Breast awareness

We advise that all women check their breasts regularly for any change in look and feel, even if you are having a mammogram regularly, because most breast cancers are found by women themselves. Should you notice any change, contact your GP immediately.

Symptoms of breast cancer

Changes that could be due to a breast cancer are:

A lump or thickening in an area of the breast
A change in the size or shape of a breast
One breast unusually lower than the other
Puckering or dimpling of the skin of the breast
A change in the shape of your nipple, particularly if it turns in,
sinks into the breast or becomes irregular in shape
Fluid or blood-stained discharge from the nipple
A rash on a nipple or surrounding area
A swelling or lump in your armpit
Enlarged lymph glands

Screening

The number of women dying from breast cancer has gone down by 20% in the past 10 years in the UK. This is probably for a number of reasons. In particular, the UK breast screening programme is picking up breast cancer earlier and treatments continue to improve. Overall, for women whose breast cancers were picked up during screening, 93 out of every 100 (93%) lived for at least 5 years after their diagnosis, and 88 out of every 100 (88%) lived for at least 10 years after their diagnosis.

What happens when I go for a breast screen?

You will have a consultation including a breast examination by a doctor or trained nurse who will explain the procedure to you and ask you some questions about your family history and any past or present problems that you may have with your breasts. You will then have a mammogram.

If you would like to make an appointment for breast screening, please call us.