The NHS Breast Screening Programme offers free breast screening to all women aged 50 - 70. Annually, the national programme screens just under 2 million women and diagnoses about 14,000 with breast cancer.
The aim of breast screening is to detect breast cancer at an early stage, often before the woman is aware of any problem. Early detection usually means simpler and more successful treatment. Scientific evidence shows that regular breast screening between the ages of 50 - 70 years reduces the death rate from breast cancer. Currently the NHS Breast Screening Programme saves an estimated 1,400 lives each year in England.
The service for our patients is provided by the West London Breast Screening Service, who are based at Charing Cross Hospital. They invite more than 60,000 women for breast screening each year. More information about the Breast Screening Service can be found here.