Calls for breast screening review

12 April 2012

Women over 70 should insist on attending breast cancer screenings, a charity has said.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer called for a review of breast screening for women over 70 after research found 90% had never requested a screening and 28% thought there was no need.

At present, GPs invite women aged 50 to 70 to attend a screening appointment every three years, but the charity has warned that some women over 70 are "cast adrift" because they are not aware of their right to continue screening and request appointments.

The ICM survey of more than 2,200 women showed that 97% of women aged 70 did not realise they were at most risk of developing breast cancer, despite a third of the total cases diagnosed in the UK each year occurring in women aged 70 and over.

The age group is also the least likely to check their breasts regularly, it added.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "Increasing age is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer but screening and breast awareness messages do not appear to be reaching women over 70."

He said the self-referral system currently in place for women over 70 was clearly not working and called for "more focus" in communicating the message.

The survey also found that only 2% of women believed they were more at risk of getting breast cancer over the age of 70.

Two-thirds did not realise they were at increased risk of breast cancer over the age of 50, despite 80% of all breast cancers occurring in women over 50.

A spokesman for the NHS Breast Screening Programme said the programme saved 1,400 lives a year and women aged over 70 are strongly encouraged to self-refer.

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