Women risk lives by shunning scans

75,000 in Yorkshire shun screening

HEALTH: Tens of thousands of women in Yorkshire are placing their lives at risk amid a “concerning” decline in the number of breast cancer screenings, health experts have warned. More than 75,000 women in Yorkshire failed to attend a routine mammogram check.

TENS OF thousands of women in Yorkshire are placing their lives at risk amid a “concerning” decline in the number of breast cancer screenings, health experts have warned.

More than 75,000 women in Yorkshire did not attend their routine mammogram check, which is offered to those registered with a GP between the age of 50 and 70, every three years.

Across eight English regions, a total of 750,646 women did not accept the invitation, with 1.79m women attending out of the 2.54m invited.

Previously attendance uptake in England was 71.1 per cent in 2016-17, 72.0 per cent in 2015-16 and at 71.2 per cent from 2014-15.

A decade ago during 2007-08 the uptake was higher at 73.1 per cent. It is the lowest uptake rate for 11 years, according to figures released by NHS Digital in the provisional Breast Screening Programme 2017/18 annual report.

Women who are invited for their first screening about the age of 50 are often the ones who do not attend, according to Public Health England’s director of screening, Professor Anne Mackie, who admits she is “concerned” about the figures.

She added: “While 70 per cent of all eligible women are regularly attending their screening appointments, it is concerning that numbers have been falling, particularly among younger women invited to attend for their first screen. We are working hard with NHS and local community healthcare colleagues to understand why this might be and to

make appointments as easy as possible to attend for all women who want to get screened.”

Figures reveal that 75,433 women in Yorkshire, did not attend their breast cancer check during 2017-18. But out of the 257,948 invited, 182,515 were screened.

The NHS Digital report shows that in Yorkshire the uptake was 70.7 per cent during 2017-18. During 2016-17 in Yorkshire the uptake was 72.1 per cent, and from 2015-16 it was 72.3 per cent, but back in 2008-09 the uptake reached 75 per cent.

By comparison in the North East from 2017-18 the uptake level was at 74.2 per cent, whereas in the same year, the London region saw the lowest uptake figure with a low of 63.3 per cent. The NHS estimates that its screening programme saves one life for every 200 women who are scanned, adding up to about 1,300 lives saved each year in the UK.

An NHS leaflet now includes information about the risks. It states for every life saved through screening, three women are diagnosed with a cancer that would never have become life threatening – which leads to unnecessary treatments and side effects.

Breast Cancer Care’s clinical director, Dr Emma Pennery, said: “While screening remains our best tool for early detection, it’s estimated that for every life saved, three women will have unnecessary treatment. It is crucial every woman eligible is offered the opportunity to attend and receives the information they need about risks and benefits to make an informed choice.”

A Public Health England spokesman said: “There is a significant amount of work happening locally to help women understand the importance of screening and make informed decisions to attend for appointments.

“By working collaboratively with our key partners including the NHS, screening providers, Local Authorities and Cancer Alliances and charities, we continue to improve our understanding of why women chose not to - or find it difficult to – attend appointments.”

For every life saved, three will have unnecessary treatment.

Dr Emma Pennery, clinical director at Breast Cancer Care