Local women urged to attend for breast screening

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is raising awareness of the importance of women attending their breast screening appointment.

The breast screening programme invites women every three years for a routine mammogram.

All women will receive their first invitation before the age of 53. Early detection is vital in reducing the number of women dying from breast cancer. However, about 25% of women invited do not attend for screening.

The Trust’s breast screening and health improvement teams have organised information sessions in local shopping centres throughout the month of June.

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Margaret Holland, Southern Trust Breast Screening Manager said, “Women should not put off their screening appointment. The test only takes a few minutes but is so important for all women. Most women will be reassured from an all clear result.

“However there are about four women in every 100 who attend for screening who will require further tests. Most of these will go on to have a normal result but across Northern Ireland, cancer is detected through screening in one woman each day, and the earlier we can make this diagnosis increases the success of treatment.

“It is also important for women to look out for changes in the appearance of their breasts between screening appointments. Many changes are harmless but all should be checked by a GP,” Margaret added.

Breast cancer can affect both men and women. Symptoms to look out for include:
• A change in how your nipple looks
• A change in the size or shape of your breast
• A lump or area of thickened tissue in your breast
• A lump or swelling in your armpit
• A rash on or around your nipple
• Dimpling on the skin of your breast
• Disharge from your nipple

A series of information leaflets on breast cancer and screening are available from The Public Health Agency

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For more information on breast screening please also see www.cancerscreening.hscni.net or http://www.southerntrust.hscni.net/services/3362.htm

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Posted by Newry Times News on Jun 23 2017. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry