The NHS is urging women to come forward for breast screening, which can detect cancer long before it is noticeable. Breast screening uses X-rays to look for cancers that are too small to feel or see. Breast screening is offered to women aged 50 to 71, with the first invitation automatically sent between ages 50 and 53, followed by appointments every three years until age 71.
Transgender or non-binary individuals who want breast screening should ask their GP surgery for advice and need to be registered with a GP surgery to be invited. The NHS London health authority emphasized the importance of screening in an official statement, paraphrased as encouraging women to prioritize their health by attending screenings when invited. Anyone worried about symptoms of breast cancer should see their GP, regardless of age, even if they have recently had breast screening.
Symptoms in women may include a lump or swelling in the breast, chest, or armpit; skin changes like dimpling or redness; changes in breast size or shape; nipple discharge with blood; nipple changes like inversion or rash; or persistent pain in the breast or armpit. It is not specified what specific actions or campaigns the NHS is using to urge women to come forward for screening, nor how many women are currently overdue or what the uptake rates are. Additionally, it is unclear whether there are any new technologies or changes in the breast screening program being promoted.