12:10pm Monday 25th January 2010
By Claire Lomax
The number of women attending breast-screening appointments in the district has risen by almost a third in the last year.
Bradford’s Pennine Breast Screening Programme is the largest of its type in the Yorkshire and Humber region, covering Airedale, Bradford, Calderdale, Dewsbury and Huddersfield.
It invites women aged 50 to 70 for screening at more than 40 locations, with four mobile breast-screening units travelling throughout the region, two static units and a one-stop clinic in Bradford.
Between April 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, 57,000 eligible women were invited for breast cancer screening, compared with 45,000 the previous year, a rise of 26.7 per cent.
Of the women invited, 43,000 were screened, compared with 33,000 the previous year – a rise of 30 per cent. Of the total women screened during 2008/09, 300 were found to have breast cancer.
Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage. The mammogram can detect small changes in breast tissue which may indicate cancers which are too small to be felt either by the woman herself or by a doctor.
An earlier diagnosis increases the chances of making a speedy recovery.
Dr Peter James, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust director of breast screening, said: “The fact we are screening more women for breast cancer is brilliant news because there is no doubt that early detection saves lives every year.
“Screening helps detect cancers at an early stage, and the earlier the intervention the better chance women have of survival.
“A 30 per cent rise in attendances is excellent and I would urge everyone with an appointment to attend when invited as it could be extremely important.”
Paul Johnstone, regional director for public health at NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “This is tremendous news, screening saves lives, there are no two ways about it.
“The earlier a problem is identified the better, so attending a screening appointment when you are invited for one is extremely important.”
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