Women missing out on breast cancer diagnosis
A CHARITY has expressed “grave concern” after NHS figures showed uptake of breast screening remained below target levels for a fourth consecutive year.
Some 64.6% of women invited for a check attended in 2022-23, up slightly from 62.3% the year before.
But Breast Cancer Now warned this was still less than the 70% uptake goal – which has not been met since 2018-19.
Chief executive Baroness Delyth Morgan warned the shortfall meant women were being “denied the best chance of a timely diagnosis”.
She said: “We desperately need more eligible women to be screened for breast cancer.
Awareness
“The Government recognises the screening programme is crucial to increase early diagnosis and reduce cancer inequalities.
“But these disappointing figures show that, yet again, it’s failing to take the decisive action needed.”
Women are invited for NHS breast checks every three years between the ages of 50 and 71.
Some 2.98 million were notified in 2022-23, with 1.93 million attending within six months.
This led to the detection of almost 19,000 cancers.
London has the lowest uptake of invitations at 55.4%, up from 50.4% in 2022. The capital was followed by the Midlands at 64.3% and the North East and Yorkshire at 65.9%. Breast Cancer Now estimates almost 160,000 more women would have been screened and an extra 1,311 cancers diagnosed if the 70% target was met nationally.
The charity said there were a range of possible reasons for the drop in uptake.
These include a switch to an open invitation system during the pandemic, which required people to call in and arrange their own appointments. Although many services have switched back, the dip in uptake could have long-term effects on people’s likelihood to engage with the programme.
The charity said overstretched screening services also have limited resources to invest in community engagement and following up those who do not respond to invitations. Baroness Morgan urged the Government to increase investment and launch an awareness campaign.
A report by Breast Cancer Now and think tank Demos explored the wider benefits of boosting screening. The study estimated if uptake rose to 80%, this could save the economy between £96million and £111million by 2034.