Breast Screening
General views on breast screening
The National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHS BSP) was set up in 1988. Women between the ages of 50 and 70 are now routinely invited for free screening every 3 years.
Screening is for all well women without symptoms, whether they have a family history of breast cancer or not. Women over 70 are encouraged to make their own appointments.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer to affect women, and breast screening using X-rays (mammography) is currently the only method that has been extensively studied that can detect breast cancer early.
Mammogramy can detect small changes in breast tissue which may indicate cancers that are too small to be felt.
Views of breast screening
Most of the women we spoke to supported breast screening and felt that it was a benefit to attend. Many attended for screening because they believed it was better to have any breast problems detected and treated early (see 'Reasons for attending breast screening').
Some women who turned out to have an early form of breast cancer (DCIS) were glad that screening had detected their problem before it developed into anything more serious, but others were less convinced of the value of diagnosing a condition with such an uncertain prognosis (see 'DCIS and views on breast screening').
Many women with invasive breast cancer felt that finding and treating their breast cancer before it caused any symptoms had helped them to recover well, and some believed that screening had saved their life.
Supports breast screening because any breast problems can be found and treated early.
Supports breast screening because any breast problems can be found and treated early.
Is there anything you would want to say to people who've never been but maybe they're a bit afraid of going, what would you say to them?
I would say that having seen women who've had a mammogram and have, you know they've found an abnormality, but it's, as I said before, it's been easily treated and I've seen the positive side to having a mammogram rather than not bothering and you know, maybe developing a severe malignancy.
So you would say go because....?
Absolutely, absolutely, yes.
Was glad that breast screening detected her early form of cancer before it had developed into anything more serious.
Was glad that breast screening detected her early form of cancer before it had developed into anything more serious.
Well [sigh], I mean some reports say that it doesn't do any good. I personally, from my experience can't possibly go with that because I don't think I, you know, I think it would never have been picked up any other way, because of the area. I doubt I would have found a lump until it may by then have invaded, you know, my rib area, and, you know. I have to say go for a mammogram if you get the chance, yes, that would be my advice. But that's again from my own personal experience. I think, I'm not one to bury my head in the sand, so if there's anything wrong with me, I want to know so that I can do something about it, not ignore it and hope it would go away. Because cancer doesn't go away...
Says that breast screening saved her life.
Says that breast screening saved her life.
Views of breast screening and mammogramy results
No screening test is perfect. Sometimes the mammogram shows suspicious changes, but further tests show that it is not cancer (a false positive result).
Conversely, the X-ray may appear to be normal even though breast cancer is present (a false negative result).
A few women who supported breast screening had mixed feelings before going for a mammogram, especially if they'd previously been recalled for further tests (see 'Referral to a breast clinic').
Some women who'd been found to have breast cancer also had mixed feelings before attending post-operation check-ups. Although they felt anxious about going for a mammogram because of what might be found, they felt reassured when told they had no further problems.
Has mixed feelings about going for mammograms because she had been recalled for further tests in the past.
Has mixed feelings about going for mammograms because she had been recalled for further tests in the past.
All I knew was that I'd had, I'd got to go back. You know and it's sort of stunned, like you've had the diagnosis already. You know. Which I don't know whether every woman feels that way, all the recalls but it certainly made me feel very, very concerned. Very frightened.
It's [going for a mammogram] just a worrying experience in one aspect but it's quite reassuring in another, so it's with mixed emotion. You know I feel that its, on one side it's a good thing to have it done but on another side it does give you a lot of worries and concerns that you wouldn't have if you didn't go for a scan.
But you've always attended?
Oh yeah, I've always attended. Yeah.
Views of breast screening under age 50 and over age 70
Some women felt that routine breast screening should be made available to younger women, particularly those with a family history of breast cancer (see 'Breast screening before age 50').
A few recommended that women pay to have mammograms before screening age and 'do whatever they could to look after their own health'.
It is recommended that people who are at a high risk of or family history of breast cancer speak with their health practitioner about genetic testing and attending for breast screening before age 50 (NICE, CG164, 14 November 2023).
Several people recommended that women should continue having breast screening after the age of 70 because the incidence of breast cancer increases with age (see 'Breast screening after age 70').
Views of the NHS BSP
Many women were grateful for the opportunity to be routinely screened.
Some felt that routine screening should be available to women every 2 years instead of 3 years.
Although most women attend for routine breast screening because they believe it is responsible health behaviour, some may choose not to attend for various reasons (see 'Reasons for not attending breast screening').
A few women also wondered about the benefits and risks of breast screening and wondered 'whether it actually saved lives'.
See also 'Messages to others about breast screening'.
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