Women urged to attend breast screening to catch cancer early

In 2021/22, the NHS breast screening programme led to cancers being detected in 20,152 women across England.

A medic studies a mammogram of a woman’s breast, as women are urged to take up screening appointments (Rui Vieira/PA) (PA Wire)

Women are being urged to attend breast cancer screening after new data for England showed four in 10 do not accept their appointments.

Data published by NHS Digital shows that, while the number of women screened in England has risen to a record high following a drop during the pandemic, the proportion of women taking up the offer has yet to recover.

A total of 1.97 million woman aged 50 to 70 attended screening appointments within six months of an invitation in 2021/22, the highest number in records going back to 2012.