Humberside Breast Screening Service is encouraging women to support one another in attending essential breast screening appointments. With breast cancer currently holding the position of the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, early detection via screening might mean the difference between life and death. The programme manager, Lesley Peacock, points out that approximately 1,300 lives are saved each year due to women taking up the invitation to screen.
Unfortunately, the number of women participating in screenings remains alarmingly low. This is particularly notable within some general practitioner practices where merely six per cent of women aged between 50 and 53 partake in their screenings. Moreover, women from Black, South Asian, and Eastern European backgrounds appear less inclined to attend appointments. To break down any perceived barriers, the service aims to educate women regarding what they can anticipate during their appointments.
Screening invitations are usually dispatched around a woman’s 50th birthday, and subsequent screenings occur every three years until the age of 71. Mobile screening units, similar to portable cabins, circulate North and North East Lincolnshire, the East Riding, and Hull. They offer screenings in community venues such as the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Scunthorpe and Bridlington Hospital. Future stops encompass St Hugh’s Hospital in Grimsby and Hull Royal Infirmary.
The screening appointment begins with a verification of personal details, followed by the mammographic process guided by a female mammographer in a confidential environment. Two X-ray images of each breast are taken, which may cause slight discomfort but are necessary for clear imaging. The results are posted to women within two weeks of their screening.
The Lincoln Post adapted this story from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
