About breast cancer screening

Breast cancer screening aims to find breast cancers early. There's a good chance of recovery if it's detected in its early stages.

Who breast screening is for

As the likelihood of getting breast cancer increases with age, all women who are aged 50 to 70 and registered with a GP are automatically invited for breast cancer screening every three years. Find out more here: 

• NHS Choices - Breast cancer screening when it's offered

Why you should have breast screening

Read about why you should have breast screening here:

• Breast screening: helping women decide GOV.UK 

How the screening is done

Breast cancer screening uses an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they are too small to see or feel. To find out what happens in the breast cancer screening, see:

• NHS Choices - Breast cancer screening

About breast cancer

About one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. For this reason, it's vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always get any changes examined by their GP. For more information on breast cancer visit:

•  NHS Choices - Breast cancer.

For anyone with a learning disability, this easy read booklet explains why breast screening is necessary and what will happen when you go for your screening:

• NHS Breast screening easy read booklet

See the video below for more information about breast cancer screening.