October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and as the Island approaches ‘wear it pink’ day on 31st October the Island’s NHS is urging women over 50 who have not taken up their routine screening appointment to get in touch.

Around 9,000 screening invitations are sent out each year to Island women aged between 50 and 70, inviting them to attend breast screening as part of the National Breast Screening Programme.

The Programme invites women to be screened at St. Mary’s Hospital every three years.   Last year 80% of women who received an invitation to be screened attended their appointment.

Jasmine Light, Senior Breast Care Consultant Nurse at St. Mary’s said,

“Eighty per cent of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50 and this risk continues to increase with age. It is so important that this age group make sure they are screened every three years.

The screening only takes a few minutes and although it can be slightly uncomfortable for some, it is not painful.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and often finding a lump in the breast is the first sign, but not always. Breast screening can diagnose breast cancer even before it can be felt.”

Last year just over 140 women were diagnosed with breast cancer on the Island.

To help raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and the importance of being breast aware, a breast care nurse will be at Bon Marche ladies store in Newport Town Centre on Thursday 30 October from 10am – 2pm to answer any questions and help with some of the concerns that women may have about breast screening.

The breast awareness 5-point code:

1.         Know what is normal for you

2.         Know what changes to look and feel for

3.         Look and feel

4.         Report any changes to your GP without delay

5.         Attend routine breast screening if you are aged 50 or over

Further information about breast cancer can be found on the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk.   You can find out where your local breast screening unit is by calling NHS Direct on 0845 4647, by contacting your GP practice or visiting www.breastcancercare.org.uk.