Lots of women have questions about breast screening; here are some that we get asked frequently. Click on each question to expand the answer:
NHS breast screening uses X-rays, called mammograms, to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel. Watch a video on what to expect during the procedure.
Most women will find a mammogram to be uncomfortable rather than painful. We need to hold each breast tightly between two plastic plates to take the X-ray, but this should only last 5-10 seconds for each image. Some women find that taking whatever medication you would take for a headache before coming to the appointment can help with minimising discomfort.
Your mammogram will always be carried out by a female mammographer, usually working alone.
The mammogram itself will take around fie or six minutes. When you attend your appointment, you should allow time for checking in and getting undressed and dressed again, so we advise you allow up to 30 minutes for your appointment
Because mammography uses X-rays, you will be exposed to a small amount of radiation during your mammogram. The benefits of the mammogram outweigh any possible harm from the radiation exposure. Our modern machines can produce mammograms of high quality with an extremely low dose of radiation.
Breast Screening cannot prevent breast cancer, but it can find cancers when they are too small to see or feel within the breast. This means they can be more easily treated, and treatment may not be as drastic as may otherwise be the case. Early detection saves lives.
We try to make attending for screening as easy and as accessible as possible. We have three mobile units we move around the area, taking them to supermarkets and community centres etc. As close as possible to each GP practice as we screen those patients. We also screen at Castle Hill Hospital and at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospitals, which are more accessible for anyone with mobility problems.
You can bring someone with you to your appointment, but they would have to wait outside while you have your screening. Please note, our mobile units have limited space, so we ask that friends and family wait outside if possible. We ask that men do not enter the mobile units to protect the privacy of other clients being screened. We also ask that you do not bring young children with you as we are unable to care for them and they cannot accompany you into the X-ray room.
For your screening, we will need you to undress from the waist up, so we would advise that you wear separates (skirt or trousers with a blouse or sweater) for your appointment.
If your appointment is for a time, date or location which is inconvenient for you, please contact us on 01482 622300 or email Humberside.breastscreening@nhs.net and we will do our best to make a more convenient appointment for you
We will be happy to arrange another appointment for you. Just contact us using the details above.
If you have had a mammogram within 6 months of your appointment, please contact us to postpone or cancel your appointment as we will not screen you. If it has been more than 6 months, it is safe to attend for your mammogram.
If you’re under the care of a consultant following a cancer diagnosis or are being seen annually due to a family history, national screening may not be appropriate for you. If you are unsure, please contact us on 01482 622300 or Humberside.breastscreening@nhs.net
We are still able to screen you if you have breast implants. It is important that you tell someone as you arrive at a mobile unit, or your mammographer at a static unit. This is because we X-ray your breasts in a slightly different way so we can see as much breast tissue as possible.
If you have been discharged from care after breast cancer it is still important to attend for breast screening when you are invited, unless you have had a bilateral mastectomy (both breasts removed), in which case we will no longer need to screen you
Our mobile units move frequently, and it is not always possible to visit the same locations every three years. We will always do our best to invite you to a location as near as possible. If you are unable to attend your appointment due to its location, please feel free to contact us to change your appointment.
Whether or not to attend screening is your decision. If you decide not to attend, please call our office as soon as possible to cancel your appointment. This will allow us to offer that appointment to someone else. If you later change your mind and wish to be screened, you can call our office to reappoint. You may find the 'Helping to decide' leaflet useful.
If you are over 70 and have not received an appointment in the past three years, you can request a mammogram by contacting our office.
We screen woman based on the GP practice they are registered with. Each practice is screened once every three years, so not every woman will receive her appointment straight away when she reaches 50. You can receive your first invitation at any time up to your 53rd birthday.
We do not routinely offer screening for women under 50. If you are concerned about your breasts or have noticed any new symptoms, you should consult your GP. You can also check your symptoms online.