Women are putting themselves at risk from breast cancer by missing vital screening appointments.

More than half of women invited to breast screening sessions at the Thornbury Centre since February 21 have not been attending.

The Pennine Breast Screening mobile unit is at the centre in Leeds Old Road, Bradford, until June and women are being urged not to miss their appointments.

“Women who come for screening are grateful that we can offer this vital health check locally,” said Lynn Clark, health promotion specialist. “But some women are missing out on breast screening and putting their health at risk.

"We’d like to encourage these women to come along for their appointments as the unit is going to be based at the Thornbury Centre on a daily basis until June.

“We’d also like to stress that if a woman can’t make the allotted time, they can always telephone to rearrange the appointment – attending this session may save your life.”

A free NHS Breast Screening appointment is offered to all women aged 50 to 70 every three years as the risk of breast cancer increases with age. Eighty per cent of breast cancers occur in women over 50.

“If cancer is found early enough the outcome for a woman can be much better and screening can detect changes up to two years before symptoms appear,” said Shaheeda Shaikh, one of the unit’s radiographers whose job it is to x-ray women.

For further information or to discuss an appointment, contact the Pennine Breast Screening Unit on (01274) 365521/2/3.

  • Read the full story in Friday's T&A