Worries as screening for breast cancer falls below 70%

UPTAKE for breast screening in Wales has fallen below the minimum standard of 70% for the second year in a row, it has been revealed.

New data on the breast screening programme in Wales was published on March 12 by Public Health Wales in the Breast Test Wales Annual Report 2018-19.

It revealed that the percentage of women taking up their screening invitation within six months remains below the required standard, with 69.1% in 2018-19 compared to 69.0% in 2017-18.

Uptake has seen a gradual decline over the past 10 years, with the exception of financial years 2013 and 2014 when uptake was 71.9% and 72.1% respectively, from 75.6% in 2009.

In 2018-19, more than 145,000 women aged 50-70 were invited for screening in Wales. This compares to 148,000 in 2017-18.

Under Breast Test Wales, eligible women will usually receive their first routine invitation for breast cancer screening between the ages of 50 and 53, and will normally be invited every three years until their 71st birthday.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, the research and care charity, said: “It’s extremely concerning that uptake of breast screening in Wales has been declining over the last decade and has now fallen below the national minimum target for the second consecutive year.

“With thousands of women missing out on the benefits of screening, we need to act now to reverse this worrying trend.

“NHS breast screening remains critical to early diagnosis in Wales, ensuring that breast cancer is detected at an earlier, more treatable stage. “So it is vital that we do all we can to support and enable more women in Wales to make breast screening a part of their lives.”

She said there needs to be a review of the screening programme in Wales to improve attendance rates.

“We now urgently need a better understanding of the barriers to women’s attendance in Wales,” she said.

“It’s vital that Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and Breast Test Wales carry out a full review of the Welsh breast-screening programme and provide clear recommendations to help improve attendance, including initiatives such as text message reminders.”

She added: “While screening comes with some risks to be aware of, we’d encourage all women to attend their appointments when invited.

“Anyone with any questions or concerns about screening can call our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 for support and information. Our nurses are just at the end of the phone.”

Breast Test Wales is divided into three geographical divisions with centres in Cardiff, Swansea, Llandudno and Wrexham.

Eleven mobile units work across Wales to provide local screening to women who live some distance from a centre, visiting more than 100 sites in every three-year round of screening.

A total of 1,076 cancers were detected in women screened aged 49 and over. This represents 9.4 cases per 1,000 women screened.

In comparison, there were 1,113 cancers detected in 2017-18 (9.8 per 1,000 screened) and 1,185 detected in 2016-17 (9.6 per 1,000 screened).