COPING WITH… Breast Screening

Mammograms can help spot cancer, says Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones

- Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones

More than 55,000 UK women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Most have noticed symptoms and are referred to a specialist within two weeks. If it’s caught and treated early, 90% of women will live another five years or longer after their diagnosis.

Regular mammograms can help spot cancer but whatever your age, if you notice new symptoms see your GP as soon as possible, even if a recent mammogram was normal, or your next is due soon.

Breast cancer affects one in eight women and one in 870 men. You may be more at risk if one or more close relatives have had breast, ovarian, bone or other rarer cancers, particularly if relatives were young or male.