The incidence of breast cancer increases with age, about 8 out of 10 cases of breast cancer occur in women over 50 (NHS Choices 2015). The risk of developing breast cancer continues to rise as women get older.
The NHS Breast Screening Programme, set up in 1988, now invites all women in the UK between 50 and 70 for free breast screening every three years. In some areas, women aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 73 receive invitations for screening. This is part of a study looking at whether to extend the breast screening age range. Although women over 73 are not routinely invited for breast screening, they are encouraged to call the local unit to request breast screening every three years. Women are given cards at their last routine breast screening appointment to help them remember (for more information see Resources).
Some older women we spoke with attended routine mammograms every three years. A 75-year-old said she asked to be routinely invited after the age of 70 because women were still at risk of getting breast cancer and any breast problems would be detected and treated early. One 72-year-old woman, who wasn't sure when routine invitations stopped, said she'd continue having mammograms especially because she'd been recalled on one occasion. For her, this stressed the importance of attending. Another woman, aged 69, said that she'd always attended for breast screening in case there were any breast problems, and would continue attending as long as she was fit.
She chooses to have breast screening after 70 because women are still at risk of getting breast...
She chooses to have breast screening after 70 because women are still at risk of getting breast...
Age at interview: 75
Sex: Female
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Well when I did ring them up because the centre is on the Rope Walk here and I said I would like to continue the screening, perhaps at 65 I can't really remember when I had the last regular one. I think they said 'Well there won't be any more after you're 65', or 70, I really can't remember, I think it might have been 65.
It used to be 64.
Something like that. She says 'Well you can be on a list where we will call you if you request it?' So I said 'Yes, I'd like that, I'd like to come back regularly and just be screened.' You can get this horrible thing at any age, I don't see why they stop then, I suppose its money and time and all the rest of it. But anyway I think they do call me back now. And I still say 'Please will you recall me, you know every three years for continuous screening.'
But I haven't, touch wood, had any problems, but I do still go. And I request to go. I think people over 70 need to request a recall every three years isn't it? Because I think it's important, I think its extremely important to get these things seen to in the early stages with everything, every illness.
Mary attends for breast screening at age 72 and will continue to do so because the risk of breast...
Mary attends for breast screening at age 72 and will continue to do so because the risk of breast...
Age at interview: 72
Sex: Female
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You mentioned you've been going for breast screening every time for quite a few years now?
Yes, yes.
And how long does that carry on for, do you know, up until when?
You can, see I'm over sixty-five so therefore they don't send out automatic appointments to you but they state that you can, if you ring in, they will fit you in regardless of your, when, I think the other one's up to sixty-five they come through automatically like with say maybe from the doctor's surgery or they have you on file. But over sixty-five, you have to like keep an eye yourself on the years and phone in. And there's no problem, they just make an appointment for you, so that way there's no excuse.
So you would carry on?
Yes, definitely now, definitely like after this [recall], even though it was clear it just makes you more aware, like of the importance of having it done.
So if you don't receive a letter in three years you'll phone and make an appointment? Are you, do you have it in the back of the mind it's every October, every three years, that kind of thing?
Well it was, it was March normally, as I say, every March and I always had it at the back of my mind, well it must be coming near it and I just kept it, like at the top of my filing, where I keep all my other [laughs] documents. And I just keep it on the very top, the letter, like where they say it, everything is okay. Well I just check the date and to make sure that, it's something that sticks in your mind, like a birthday or something you just, it was always March, now it'll be October.
And would you want to carry on going for screening after the age of seventy as well?
Well the nurse, except, when she was giving me the card with their number on it, I could ring up and make an appointment in three years time, she said, “The older you go, the more likely you are to have breast cancer.” It may slow down but it could be, you could still have it or get it. So I think they're encouraging people to, it's only a phone call and especially when they're bringing their mobile up here to [hospital name], as you know I'm quite near [hospital name]. I mean can go in on the bus or whatever, or driving whatever, but it's not far, and it's only, you know, half an hour or so, an hour out of your day. So I say it's, well it's there but I think you've just go to help yourself too.
She always attends for breast screening and will continue to do so until she's no longer fit enough.
She always attends for breast screening and will continue to do so until she's no longer fit enough.
Age at interview: 69
Sex: Female
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Like when you're over, I mean they was stopping it I think when you're, was it sixty five, you see but then they said "Oh no you can come again," so I went again you see and then you see they said they were stopping it at seventy but now you see they said I can go again, so I'm going to go again.
Yes. If you want to, you can go again?
Yeah, yeah.
So you would want to keep on going?
Oh yeah as long as you can go because I mean it don't matter how old you are really, I still think you're, you ought to go. Unless I got to that stage where I couldn't go [laughs] I got too old then probably you know. But I will go, yeah.
They gave me a green card this time, August 2003 and then it's got August 2006.
Is that your next appointment?
Yeah I think I've got to ring them up. But then when I got this letter it was saying something and that's when I rang up and I couldn't get through to anybody. But I might ring it up again and just say well they're not going to write to you, that's all it is, but I want to know when you've got to ring them up about it.
So even though you're 70 you want to carry on?
That's it, yeah
And have mammograms every three years?
Yeah, yeah.
Why do you want to carry on?
Well in case there is anything any time [laughs].
Many women didn't know how long they would be routinely invited for breast screening and several were confused about it. One woman said she was very pleased to learn that women over 70 were still eligible for free mammograms and felt that this should be made clearer. Some other women in their 50s and early 60s also said that, after the age of 70, they would want to continue having routine mammograms. Many said it would be reassuring to know they were fit and healthy, and that any breast problems would be detected early (see 'Reasons for attending breast screening'). Some British Chinese women under 70 wanted to continue having routine mammograms every three years but had received no information about screening for some years. They would have liked more information on breast screening and breast cancer in Cantonese (see 'Information').
Patricia wants to continue having routine mammograms after she's 70 because many people in their...
Patricia wants to continue having routine mammograms after she's 70 because many people in their...
Age at interview: 64
Sex: Female
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I am really pleased that they have upped the age limit from 64 to 70 because people are living longer and people of 60-65 do not seem old people. Even if you are old, you should still have it done. I appreciate now you can still get it done over 70 if asked for, but I think that should be actually advertised more because, until I went to the last screening, I didn't know that this has actually gone from 64 to 70 which made me wonder in the beginning when I hadn't heard and I thought I had been missed, but I hadn't, that was just a misunderstanding on my point, that I was so pleased because I was thinking this was the last time I was going, time I was going to get it.
Yeah. So people should be told more that it is up to the age of 70?
70, and if required afterwards you can ask for it, according to the information I was given on this visit.
You were given that information at the visit, but you didn't have a leaflet with your invitation?
No, whether it was just unfortunately missed, you know, left off I don't know.
That is a very good point. So when you get to the age of 70 would you like to carry on?
Well yes. I can't see why people at any age, over the age of 50 obviously, you have them done before if there is a problem, but you know, I don't see, because some people 75, 80, are so active and so energetic and so healthy, and so well. But it doesn't mean to say that they couldn't be treated if they, you know, got a lump or any other type of thing to do with cancer.
So you would phone after the age of 70?
Well I think I would. I think I would. I definitely think it is a marvellous thing to' well it is prevention. Not in every case but in lots and lots of cases, it is prevention.
She wants to continue having routine mammograms but has received no information for several years...
She wants to continue having routine mammograms but has received no information for several years...
Age at interview: 68
Sex: Female
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My only problem is that last year I asked [a friend who speaks English] to book an appointment for me but the hospital did not answer me, they say because I'm, I'm over the age so I don't need to go back. But I would like to go back to check up. I'm under 70. I don't know if I can still have these check-ups after 70 years old, I want to know but haven't heard anything since my last check-up four or five years ago. Really my concern is I want to have the check up, another check up, but don't know if I book with them or if I am entitled or if I need to go see my GP, ask the GP.
Some women we spoke to had had breast cancer. One of these encouraged women to go for screening after the age of 73 as older women were still at risk of getting breast cancer. She stressed that mammography was quick and saved lives. Many women who'd had breast cancer said they'd continue having mammograms after they were 73 and until they were no longer fit enough to do so. Some, who'd had routine mammograms done privately, said they'd continue to be screened privately after they were 70 (now 73). One woman who'd had breast cancer said she'd have routine mammograms after the age of 70 if her doctors advised it, and would be reassured by having regular breast screening.
She encourages women to attend for screening after 70 as they are still at risk of getting breast...
She encourages women to attend for screening after 70 as they are still at risk of getting breast...
Age at interview: 61
Sex: Female
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At the moment I think the ceiling is 60 for mammograms but that is now being extended to 70. But if it hasn't in your area yet reached 70, there will be a number that you can get from NHS Direct where you can phone and refer yourself if you are over 60. If you're over 70 and you can still do that because some ladies think that because after, because the mammograms stop at 60 or 70 they're no longer at risk. But, unfortunately, the older you get the more at risk you are so because you're 70 don't think you're not at risk. So please, take these mammograms, it's only a few minutes pressure on your breast. It's only 10 minutes to go through the whole process and it's a life-saver and it could save you so much grief so please, please do have it.
She'd have routine screening after 70 if her doctors advised her to and says that it would be...
She'd have routine screening after 70 if her doctors advised her to and says that it would be...
Age at interview: 54
Sex: Female
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I would follow what the programme sort of suggested because I think, if I'd been sort of 15 years clear at that time, then, you know, I would accept that probably my risk is no greater than anybody else's at that time and do whatever the programme suggested. I'm very much a, I'll follow medical advice, I'll question it if I feel the need to [laughing] but, you know, you're not the expert in everything; you have to listen to what the experts say sometimes.
If they say it's up to you after the age of 70 whether you want to go for 3 yearly mammograms or not, would you want to continue?
Oh, probably. I think there's probably that prop needed that says, you know, just like that little bit of reassurance that....
Some women were unsure whether they'd attend for routine screening after they were 70. Several said they probably would as long as they were still fit and healthy. A few said they would check with their GP first, while others felt they wouldn't attend if they'd had no breast problems up until then, but stressed that it was still important to be breast aware. One of them wondered if breast cancer developed more slowly after the age of 70. Several women felt that after the age of 70 other health problems were more likely to affect them than breast cancer.
As long as she was still healthy, Shirin would continue going for mammograms after the age of 70.
As long as she was still healthy, Shirin would continue going for mammograms after the age of 70.
Age at interview: 62
Sex: Female
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In terms of breast screening, women are invited up to the age of 70, up to the age of 70, they receive a letter. After then it is up to them whether they want to go for screening. They would have to phone and make an appointment. Would you want to carry on after the age of 70 to go for screening?
It would depend how fed up I was [laughs]. Depends how fed up I am with life, you know, the screening and x-rays and all that, you know, but obviously I wouldn't mind after 70 provided I am fit and happy. Because if I am not going to be healthy at that age, then quite frankly I wouldn't mind succumbing to the illness. Who cares? You know. But obviously if I am healthy then I wouldn't want this to make me, wouldn't want any sort of cancer to make me unhealthy. But if something should go wrong before the age of 70, say for example I am handicapped or in a wheelchair, then I don't care, one more illness like cancer will kill me off quicker, you know.
So it depends on what is happening at the time?
Exactly. Exactly. Yes.
She wouldn't attend for screening after 70 if she's had no breast problems before then.
She wouldn't attend for screening after 70 if she's had no breast problems before then.
Age at interview: 60
Sex: Female
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So you've been for a mammogram every three years since you were first invited?
Yes. Yes.
And you will be invited up until the age of 70 now?
Yeah.
After the age of 70 it's up to you whether you would want to go. In your case, would you want to go, or'?
I probably wouldn't. I probably wouldn't no. If I had not any problems up until 70, which is now another ten years, another three goes I suppose, I don't think after 70 I would, no.
OK. And your reasons for that would be you've been fine up until then?
I've been fine up until then, I understand, I'm not sure if this is fact, but the older you get the slower the development and growth rate of these things are. So I would probably continue to do self-checks, but I, and I think that I would just leave it at that.
Last reviewed March 2016.
Last updated March 2016.
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