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One in seven women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime - with a woman diagnosed every 10 minutes in the UK, according to statistics from charity Breast Cancer Now. 

However, breast cancer survival is improving and has doubled in the past 50 years in the UK due to a combination of improvements in treatment and care, earlier detection through screening and a focus on targets, including faster diagnosis.

NHS England has reported that the number of women attending their first NHS mammogram hit a 10-year high last year at just over 63 per cent - resulting inTop of Form thousands more cancers being detected. 

And with October marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the team at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust has issued a timely reminder for patients to attend their screening appointment.

 

There is also a call for women to be aware of potential signs of cancer, with statistics revealing that almost half of UK women do not check their breasts regularly.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, with the NHS offering free screening to women aged between 50-70 every three years.

Research shows that screening - used to find breast cancers at an early stage when they are too small to see or feel - saves on average one life from breast cancer for every 200 women who are screened. That's around 1,300 lives saved each year in the UK. 

 

Kaylie Harvey is Breast Service Manager at the Trust, which issues around 19,000 screening invitation letters each year.

She said: “Raising awareness of breast cancer - in women and men - is important, particularly during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We would urge anyone who has been invited to attend breast screening to keep their appointment.

“As part of their regular breast care routine, we would like to remind women about the importance of checking their breasts on a monthly basis. 

 

“Checking your breasts only takes a few minutes. Everyone will have their own way of touching and looking for changes, but remember to check the whole breast area, including your upper chest and armpits.

“Women with any concerns or changes should contact their GP in the first instance and they will refer to your local breast unit if required.”

Around 55,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year.

  Trust statistics for 2025/2026

• 19,450 women invited to attend breast screening.
• The total of women attended and were screened was 14,100.
• Out of these women, 624 how many were called back for assessment.
• The number of breast cancers detected through breast screening was 141.

As well as on-site breast screening within a hospital setting, mobile screening vehicles also regularly visit Stamford and Rutland Hospital and many other venues within the local community.

The Breast Care team will also be hosting information stands at Peterborough City Hospital and Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon throughout the month. 

The stands will be in the main entrances of:

·         Hinchingbrooke Hospital - Huntingdon: 5-9 October and 26-29 October

·         Peterborough City Hospital - 1-29 October

·         Peterborough City Hospital's Women & Children's Unit - until 30 October

 

To find out what you can expect at your appointment at the Trust, please visit  Breast Unit | NW Anglia Website (nwangliaft.nhs.uk)

 

Pic cap: Some of the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust's Breast Services team and Advanced Practitioner Rachel Reed.