Your breast screening appointment

What is breast screening and how is it done?

Breast screening at Dorset Breast Screening Unit looks for signs of breast cancer. We use full field digital Mammography x-rays to image breasts

Why should I come for breast screening?

Breast screening saves lives. BApproximately over 1400 lives are saved each year in England from the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP). Screening can detect signs of breast cancer that are too small to feel and see. Earlier detection can mean a simpler and more successful treatment.

Screening is practised worldwide and the programme has been running in the UK since the early 1990s.

Do I need to do anything for my appointment?

We will ask you to undress to the waist so please wear suitable clothing. It is useful to wear separates such as a skirt or trousers with a top. You can bring a jacket to cover you if you prefer.

Your skin must be clean, dry and free from all lotions. Deodorants and talcum powder can affect the quality of the image taken.

If your hair is likely to fall over your face during the screening we may ask you to tie it back. This will help us make sure your image is clear enough for us to make a diagnosis.

Is screening harmful?

The main risk of screening is that it could find a cancer that would not have caused harm. This is because it cannot be predicted if a cancer will become life-threatening or not. Breast cancer can still develop in the time between screening appointments. You should self-examine your breasts regularly to check for any changes. Contact your GP if there are any.

Does having a mammogram hurt?

We only compress the breast for a few seconds. Most women do not find this painful. It does not cause any harm to the breasts. Compression is used to image the breasts clearly with the lowest amount of radiation possible. If you are concerned, please speak to a member of staff when you come for your appointment.

How accurate is screening?

Mammography will not detect all breast cancers. However, currently it is the most effective way of screening for breast cancer.

How often do we screen women?

In the UK, the NHS National Breast Screening Programme invites women approximately every three years.

What ages are routinely invited?

We currently invite women aged between 50 and 70 who are registered with a Dorset GP.

Women can be invited for their first screening between the ages of 50 and 53 so don’t worry if you are 52 and have not yet been called. We invite women for screening by GP practice and not by postcode.

Women aged 71 and over are very welcome to attend breast screening every three years, however you will not be routinely invited. To self-refer after the age of 71 please call 01202 665511 and select option 2.

How and when will my results be given to me?

We do not give results out by phone. We usually send results out by post. We aim to have contacted you within 14 days. A small number of women will be invited to attend the second stage of screening. This invitation may be by telephone or letter. A small number of women will be asked to re-attend for a ‘technical repeat’. This invitation may be by telephone, letter or as a last resort we will contact your GP.

I have been asked to come for a ‘technical repeat.’ What does this mean?

We are unable to prevent all technical faults. This may be due to:

• positioning
• equipment fault
• the image is not of diagnostic quality.

We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. We will try to contact you by telephone if possible, but may write to you to invite you for a ‘technical’ repeat. If we cannot contact you by telephone or you do not reply to our letter we will contact your GP.