Ladies registered at Iridium Medical Practice who are eligible for breast screening this year are being sent invitations.  If you receive an invitation in the post please do attend.  It takes just a few minutes of your time but could save your life.  The invitation letter will tell you the location, date and time of your appointment and information on your breast screening visit .  Screening usually takes place on one of their mobile screening units in a location within the community close to where you live.

Breast screening is offered to women aged 50 to 70 to detect early signs of breast cancer. It uses an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they’re too small to see or feel.

As the likelihood of getting breast cancer increases with age, all women aged from 50 to their 71st birthday who are registered with a GP are automatically invited for breast cancer screening every three years.

If you are over 70 years of age you may not automatically be invited for screening but it is still free and available; you just need to call the Breast Screening Office to arrange an appointment on 0121 507 4967 option 1

You can have screening from a younger age if you have a higher than average risk of breast cancer. This might be due to a family history or an inherited faulty gene.

Please call the surgery and ask to the GP if you think you might be at increased risk. We can refer you to a genetic specialist, who can assess your risk. Not everyone with a family history of cancer is at increased risk themselves.

In the meantime, if you’re worried about breast cancer symptoms at whatever age, such as a lump or an area of thickened tissue in a breast, or you notice that your breasts look or feel different from what’s normal for you, do not wait to be offered screening, contact the surgery to book an appointment with a GP.

For more information on breast screening please click on the following websites:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/getting-diagnosed/screening/breast-screening

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer-screening/

https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/watch/CSWBSS/ 

If a member of your family or someone you care for has a learning disability, has difficulties with written English or is unable to read English please click on the following easy guide links that you can refer to:

PHE Easy guide to breast screening

Beyond Words easy guide to breast screening picture book

Avon Breast Screening Video for women with learning disabilities

GOV.UK breast screening helping women decide Link to leaflet and animation videos in English and different languages

The breast screening service also works with the local learning disability health teams. If you would like support with any health issues you can contact them directly:

Learning disability teams
Birmingham
0121 465 8400

City, Sandwell and Walsall Breast Screening Service
Telephone: 0121 507 4967 option 1
(Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm)
Email: swb-tr.cswbreastscreening@nhs.net

I’m trans or non-binary, does this affect my cancer screening?

For more information please visit www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/screening/trans-and-non-binary-cancer-screening