Why the NHS offers breast screening
The NHS offers screening to save lives from breast cancer. Screening does this by finding breast cancers at an early stage when they are too small to see or feel. Screening does not prevent you from getting breast cancer.
Breast screening does have some risks. Some women who have screening will be diagnosed and treated for breast cancer that would never otherwise have been found or caused them harm.
You can find more information about NHS breast screening on the Government’s website.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow in an uncontrolled way and build up to form a lump (also known as a tumour). As the cancer grows, cells can spread to other parts of the body and this can be life-threatening.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. About 12,000 women in the UK die of breast cancer every year. Survival from the disease has been improving over time, and now about three out of four women diagnosed with breast cancer are alive 10 years later.
Your risk of getting breast cancer goes up as you get older. About four out of five breast cancers are found in women over 50 years old. Most women with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
In about 96 out of every 100 women screened the mammogram will show no sign of cancer, and no further tests are needed.
Cancer can still develop between mammograms. Remember to check your breasts and tell your GP straight away if you notice any unusual changes.
When you will be invited for breast screening and who should go
Anyone registered with a GP as female will be invited for NHS breast screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 71. You’ll get a letter in the post inviting you.
You’ll automatically get your first invite for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53. Then you’ll be invited every three years until you turn 71.
If you’re a trans man, trans woman or are non-binary you may be invited automatically, or you may need to talk to your GP surgery or call the local breast screening service to ask for an appointment.
You need to be registered with a GP surgery to be invited for breast screening.
If you have not been sent a letter
If you have not been invited for breast screening by the time you are 53 and think you should have been, contact your local breast screening service.
If you are 71 or over
You will not automatically be invited for breast screening if you are 71 or over, but you can still have breast screening every three years if you want to. You will need to call your local breast screening service to ask for an appointment.
If you’re trans or non-binary
If you’re a trans man, trans woman or are non-binary how you are invited will depend on the sex you are registered with at a GP:
- if you’re registered as female with a GP you will automatically be invited for breast screening
- if you’re registered as male with a GP you will not automatically be invited for breast screening
If you have symptoms
See a GP if you have any symptoms of breast cancer, even if you have recently had a clear breast screening. Do not wait for your next breast screening appointment.
Who can get breast cancer
Anyone can get breast cancer. This includes women, men, trans and non-binary people. It’s the most common type of cancer in the UK.
The chance of getting breast cancer increases as you get older. Most breast cancers are diagnosed in women over 50 years old.
How breast screening can help
Regular breast screening is one of the best ways to spot a cancer that is too small to feel or see.
Breast screening saves around 1,300 lives each year in the UK.
Finding cancer early can make it:
- more likely that treatment will be successful
- less likely you’ll need to have a breast removed (mastectomy)
- more likely you’ll be cured
You can have breast screening whatever size or shape your breasts are.
Checking your breasts
As well as going for regular breast screening, it’s important you know how your breasts normally look and feel. Cancers can develop between mammograms. If you notice any changes in your breasts that are not normal for you, see a GP straightaway.
Risks of breast screening
Doctors cannot always tell if a cancer will go on to be life-threatening or not, so treatment is always offered if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer.
This means some cancers that are diagnosed and treated would not have been life-threatening. Treatment of non life-threatening cancers is the main risk of breast screening.
Other risks of breast screening include:
- a cancer being missed – mammograms do not always find a cancer that is there
- X-rays – having a mammogram every three years for 20 years gives you a very slightly higher chance of getting cancer over your lifetime
Most people feel the benefits of breast screening outweigh the possible risks.
You can find more information on this Government website: GOV.UK: Breast screening: helping women decide
Breast screening is a choice
It’s your choice if you want to go for breast screening. Screening does not stop you getting breast cancer, but it is the best way to spot cancers at an early stage.
If you do not want to be invited for screening, contact a GP or your local breast screening service and ask to be taken off the breast screening list.
You can ask them to put you back on the list at any time if you change your mind.
What happens during breast screening?
Breast screening involves having an X-ray (mammogram) at a special clinic or mobile breast screening unit. This is done by female health specialists called mammographers.
Mammograms can show breast cancers at an early stage, when they are too small for you or your doctor to see or feel. A mammogram only takes a short time, the whole appointment should take about 30 minutes, it involves a small amount of radiation, however, the benefits of detecting an early cancer far outweigh any risk involved.
We can screen women who have breast implants.
How breast screening is done
Breast screening is usually done by one or two female mammographers. You can ask them about any questions or concerns you have.
- You’ll need to undress so you are naked from the waist up.
- You’ll be in an X-ray room and the mammographer will explain what will happen.
- She will firstly confirm your details with you, name, date of birth etc.
- The mammographer will ask you a few questions, for example, have you ever had a mammogram before, have you ever had any breast problems, do you currently have any breast problems etc.
- The mammographer will place your breast onto the X-ray machine. It will be squeezed between 2 pieces of plastic to keep it still while the X-rays are taken. This takes a few seconds and you need to stay still. Your breast will be taken off of the machine afterwards.
- The X-ray machine will then be tilted to one side and the process will be repeated on the side of your breast.
- Your other breast will be X-rayed in the same way.
- You will then get dressed.
- Feel free at any time to ask questions
What happens if I have had mammograms taken elsewhere in the past?
Your mammographer will ask you if you have ever had previous mammograms. If you have then every effort will be made to locate these X-rays prior to your films being reported so that comparisons can be made between the X-rays. Therefore, if you are able to give us accurate information on where and when you had mammograms taken this will speed up the process of locating them.
Things to help your breast screening appointment
You do not need to do anything special to prepare for a mammogram, but there are things that may help.
Don’t
- do not use talcum powder or spray deodorant on the day as this may affect the mammogram – roll-on deodorant is OK
Do
- wear a skirt or trousers, rather than a dress, to make it easier to get naked to the waist
- remove necklaces before you arrive for your appointment
- tell them if you have found screening uncomfortable in the past
- talk to the staff if you are nervous or embarrassed, they are trained to help you feel more comfortable and provide support
- ask staff not to use any phrases or words that make you uncomfortable or nervous
- tell the staff your pronouns, if you would like to
- Feel free at any time to ask questions
- There is no evidence that this procedure harms the breast.
- Some women may find mammography uncomfortable and some find it painful as the breasts have to be held firmly in position and pressed to take a good X-ray. If you do experience pain it usually only lasts for as long as the mammogram, although it may continue for some in a small number of women. You have the right at any stage of the examination to ask the mammographer to stop the procedure.
Things to look out for after breast screening
Any discomfort or pain you may have during a mammogram should go away very soon.
If you found the mammogram very painful you may have pain for a couple of days. See a GP if the pain does not go away after a couple of days.
Where do I go for breast screening in Lincolnshire?
Appointments are available at our hospital clinics all year round:
- Breast Unit, County Hospital, Lincoln
- Breast Unit, Pilgrim Hospital, Boston
- Breast Unit, Grantham Hospital
Our mobile units visit different sites around Lincolnshire for time limited periods. When you receive your invitation contact us as soon as possible to find out where are mobile units are based so we can book you an appointment at the most convenient venue.
Our mobile sites are:
Skegness Hospital, Car park off Lincoln Rd , Skegness Hospital, Lincoln Road, Lincolnshire, PE25 2BS
Horncastle, Stanhope Hall car park, Boston Road, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 6NF
Louth Hospital, High Holme Road, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 1EU
Ruskington Medical Practice, Brookside Close, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9GQ
Caistor Health Centre, Dale View, Caistor, Lincolnshire, LN7 6NX
Market Rasen, Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN8 3HT
Mablethorpe, Marisco Medical Practice, Stanley Avenue, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, LN12 1DP
Spalding, Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding Road, Pinchbeck, Spalding, Lincolnshire,PE11 3PB
Long Sutton, Long Sutton Medical Centre, Trafalgar Square, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, PE12 9HB
Gainsborough, John Coupland Hospital, Ropery Road, Gainsborough, DN21 2TJ
If you have been advised you are due for breast screening you can contact the breast screening office on 01522 573999 or email [email protected] to book an appointment.
Breast screening results
Who reads the mammogram?
Your mammogram is read twice, by a combination of two consultant radiologists (a senior doctor highly trained in the reading of X-rays) or a consultant radiologist and a consultant mammographer or a specially trained radiographer film reader. There are occasions when these specialists decide that your mammogram cannot be read because it is not of high enough technical quality. You will be sent a letter explaining this and you will be asked to attend again for repeat X-rays. This does not mean that there is anything wrong with you but simply that a better quality image is required.
After your breasts have been X-rayed, the mammogram will be checked for any abnormalities.
The results of the mammogram will be sent to you and your GP no later than two weeks after your appointment.
What your result means
No sign of breast cancer
Your breast screening result letter may say that your mammogram shows no sign of breast cancer. You will not need any further tests and will be invited again in three years.
Most people who have breast screening will have no sign of cancer.
Need further tests – what it means to be called back to an assessment clinic (second stage screening)
The results letter may say you need more tests because the mammogram looks abnormal.
About four in every 100 women are asked to come back for more tests after screening. Out of these four women, one will be found to have cancer. The rest will not have cancer and will go back to having screening invitations every three years.
You will be given an appointment and will be asked to attend a specialist breast screening assessment clinic at Lincoln County Hospital. If the appointment date, time or venue is not convenient all you have to do is ring the screening office on 01522 573999 to alter your appointment.
These tests can include:
- an examination of your breast
- more mammograms
- ultrasound scans of your breast
- taking a small sample (biopsy) from your breast using a needle
- You may feel anxious about having further tests and what this means. Your letter will tell you how to contact a breast care nurse if you have any questions or would like to discuss the process.
- Most people who need further tests will not be diagnosed with breast cancer. But if there are signs of breast cancer, finding it early means treatment is more likely to be successful.
What if I need treatment?
If you are recalled and subsequently require treatment a specialist team will look after you. They will make sure that you get a high quality of care and treatment at all times.
How reliable is breast screening?
Mammography is the most reliable way of detecting breast cancer early, but like other screening tests, it is not perfect. For example:
- Some cancers are very difficult to see on the x-ray
- Some cancers, even though they are there, cannot be seen on the x-ray at all
- The person reading the x-ray may miss the cancer (this will happen occasionally, no matter how experienced the reader is).
Does breast screening prevent breast cancer?
No, breast screening only helps find breast cancer if it is already there. You should be aware of any changes in your breasts because breast cancer can develop at any time. Some women will develop breast cancer before their first mammogram or between mammograms.
What happens to your x-rays after screening?
Our breast screening service will keep your analogue mammograms for at least eight years, longer if necessary. By 2015 United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) had replaced all its analogue mammography equipment with new state of the art digital mammography x-ray units. Digital mammograms are retained indefinitely. We can compare your latest mammogram with the previous ones you have had.
More information regarding breast screening can be found on the national NHS website: Breast screening (mammogram) – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Breast awareness
There is a simple five-point breast awareness code that all women should remember:
- Know what is normal for you
- Look at and feel your breasts
- Know what changes to look for (lumps, pain, discharge from the nipple or anything else unusual)
- Tell your doctor about any changes immediately
- Go for breast screening every three years if you are over 50
There are many reasons for changes in your breasts. Most of them are harmless but you should get any changes checked.
Contacts
Dr Marketa Omran, Director of Breast Screening
Miss Heather Tod, Breast Modality Lead
Ms Alysa Page, Breast Screening Programme Manager
Lincolnshire Breast Screening Service
Administration Office
Lincoln County Hospital
Greetwell Road
Lincoln LN2 5QY
Tel: 01522 573999
Email: [email protected]
The screening office opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. We also have an answering machine facility outside of these hours or when it’s busy.
Text Message Reminders
Our service offers a text message appointment reminder service. If you wish to receive a text message reminder regarding your appointment we will require your mobile telephone number. Please contact us to provide us with your details. If we have your mobile telephone number as a point of contact but do not wish to receive text messages please let us know and we can note this in your information.