The Gloucestershire Breast Screening Service has screened 320,000 women
and detected around 1,700 cancers.

Why should we keep breast screening appointments?

- the simple answer is breast screening saves lives

Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage which can mean simpler and more effective treatment. The first step involves an x-ray of each breast - a mammogram - which is taken while carefully compressing the breast between two plastic plates. Most women find it a bit uncomfortable and a few find it painful. The mammogram can detect small changes in breast tissue which are too small to be felt either by the woman herself or by a doctor.

The latest research shows that the NHS Breast Screening Programme is now saving 1,400 lives every year in England and is an effective part of the UK's efforts to reduce the death toll from breast cancer.

• In the 1970s around 5 out of 10 breast cancer patients survived beyond 5 years. Now it's 8 out of 10
• 1 in 9 women will develop breast cancer at some time in their life
• 80% of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50

The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every 3 years for all women in the UK aged 50 and over. Around 1.5 million women are screened in the UK each year. Women aged between 50 and 70 are now routinely invited. Women over the age of 70 can request further screening appointments by contacting the service themselves.