Come to breast screening, don’t be afraid
A new breast screening video has been launched to help save lives in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. It features patients and staff from King’s College Hospital has been launched to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The video features a diverse array of patients from south-east London – some from groups with traditionally low take-up of screening invitations – talking about their experiences of having a mammogram. Their aim is to highlight the importance of breast screening to enable the early detection and treatment of cancer. King’s provides breast screening for those living in the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.
Lindsay, who features in the video, has been both a radiographer and a patient at King’s, having been diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer following a mammogram.
Lindsay said: “I’m a mammographer, I’ve worked at King’s for many years, I’m also breast cancer survivor. If I hadn’t had all my treatment, I don’t think I’d be talking to you today. It makes me feel very lucky to be alive. I can’t get this message over more strongly, please, please come to breast screening, don’t be afraid.”
Dr Juliet Morel, Consultant Radiologist and Director of Screening at King’s, stressed the importance of such videos to encourage take-up of screening. She said, “Nearly half of all women invited to breast screening in London do not take up the offer, and those who miss their first screening are more likely to miss subsequent ones. This means that thousands of women are at risk of missing that window where we can treat breast cancer early, and give the best chance of cure.
“Roughly 1 in 100 people who attend screening are diagnosed with breast cancer, and we know that early detection is key. Between 90 and 95% of people diagnosed at an early stage will survive for at least five years.
“Breast screening can detect early changes to the breast tissue, often long before physical changes appear. For those who are eligible, breast screening should be top of their to-do list.”
Although screening uptake in south-east London is better than some other parts of the capital, it is still lower than the NHS target of 70%, and is notably lower among some groups, such as Black African and south Asian women.
Francesca Fiennes, Health Promotion Specialist in the South-East London Breast Screening Programme, added, “We created this video to provide something relatable for people living in south-east London, and to share uplifting stories. If there’s one message we want to get across, it’s that breast screening saves lives.”
The Breast Screening Service received funding from the South-East London Cancer Alliance to produce this video.
About breast cancer screening
Breast screening aims to find breast cancers early. It uses an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they are too small to see or feel.
Women aged from 50 to 71 are invited for breast cancer screening every three years. Find out more.
Why is this important to Lambeth Together?
For Breast and Cervical screening Lambeth is below national standard. We’re working to increase the uptake of the national cancer screening programmes, while also focusing on reducing inequalities in cancer. Find out more in our five-year Health and Care Plan.