As the nation goes pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women in Stockport are being urged to attend for their screening to help keep safe. 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the UK; it accounts for 15% of all cancer diagnoses. Across the UK, 150 individuals are diagnosed with breast cancer every day; and tragically 31 of them will lose their fight against the disease.  Early diagnosis gives you a better chance of survival, which is why scanning is so important. 

Anyone can get breast cancer, but it is significantly more prevalent in women, and the risk increases with age. For these reasons, anyone who is 50 to 70 years old and registered as female with a GP practice are invited for breast cancer screening every 3 years. The service uses X-ray technology to search for signs of cancer in women who may not show other symptoms.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that screening stopped for around five months, and so some women may take longer than three years to receive their invitation. That’s why it’s even more important for women to take up the offer of screening when they receive it.

The Cheshire and Stockport breast screening service for local people is run by East Cheshire NHS Trust and based at Macclesfield Hospital, but a mobile van unit housing the latest scanning technology together with dedicated staff ensures the services are provided locally in the Stockport area.

The van travels around the Stockport area depending on which GP practices are being screened at the time. It goes to Bramhall, Brinnington, Marple, Romiley and Shaw Heath, and is currently at Shaw Heath Medical centre. Those who would prefer to receive the scan at Macclesfield Hospital can also do so if they wish.

Sara Clarke, breast screening co-ordinator for the service said “Early diagnosis is absolutely key to the successful treatment of breast cancer, and screening is a vital part of this. We’re delighted to be able to offer this service to people in Stockport with the help of our mobile scanner. If you receive an invitation for screening then please ensure you respond to it; it really can make all the difference.”  

Once you have received your invitation for screening you can visit their webpage and fill in the form https://services.eastcheshire.nhs.uk/breast-screening or you can call them direct at 01625 661157.