WEDNESDAY, 26 AUGUST, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Get checked to beat breast cancer

NHS Tayside is encouraging women to ‘get checked early’ by taking up the offer of breast screening when the invite to either the regional breast screening centre or one of the mobile units pops through their letterbox.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Scotland with one in nine in being diagnosed in their lifetime. The earlier breast cancer is found the better a woman’s chance of surviving it. Breast screening takes around ten minutes and can detect tiny cancers that can’t be seen or felt any other way. You are five times more likely to survive breast cancer if it is caught at its earliest stage.

Breast screening alone saves around 130 lives every year in Scotland, helping pick up tiny cancers that can’t be felt on medical examination, when the cancer is usually less advanced and more easily treated.

All women aged between 50 and 70 are invited for breast screening every three years. The mobile unit is in Blairgowrie just now, with screening being carried out on a practice-by-practice basis. Women from the GP practices in Coupar Angus and Alyth have already received their invitations. Women registered at the Ardblair practice will receive their invitations over the next few weeks and women registered with the Strathmore practice will receive invitations in September. If the appointment date or time is not suitable it is easy to reschedule and if you have missed your appointment, it isn’t too late to make another one.

Dr Julie Cavanagh, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said, “If you are a woman over 50, attending your regular breast screening appointments gives you the best chance of being diagnosed early and surviving breast cancer.

“As well as taking up your screening invitation, it’s important to continue to check your breasts for any changes in between screening appointments. If you do find a lump or notice any changes, you should see your GP immediately. Don’t be embarrassed to see your doctor if you have concerns about changes in your breast – it’s better to get checked.

“Breast cancer is much more treatable nowadays and the earlier it is found, the easier it is to treat.”

If you have missed an appointment over the last two years, or are now over 70 you can make an appointment by contacting the Dundee Breast Screening Centre on 01382 425646.

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications,

(01382) 424138