Following MP Dawn Butler's appearance on This Morning today, announcing her mission to find the Million Missing Mammograms, Breast Cancer Now said:
“We’re grateful to MP Dawn Butler for sharing her experience and raising the important issue of the shortfall in women having breast screening caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"In 2020 to 2021, almost a million fewer women in England were screened for breast cancer.
"And we estimate that, as of May 2022, almost 8,000 people in England are living with undiagnosed breast cancer largely because of screening disruption.
“This is why Breast Cancer Now has been calling on the government as part of our #NoTimeToWaste campaign to set out how it will address the shortfall in the number of women screened, and find these missing women.
To help achieve this, we need a fully funded, long-term workforce plan, alongside the upcoming 10-year Cancer Plan, to ensure we have the right workforce in place to deliver timely screening for all eligible women.
“The Breast Screening Programme is vital in helping to detect breast cancer at the earliest possible stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
"We encourage women to attend breast screening appointments when invited and regularly check their breasts, reporting any unusual changes to their GP as soon as possible.
"Checking your breasts only takes a few minutes. It could be when you get dressed, when you’re showering or putting on moisturiser. There's no special technique, it’s as simple as TLC: Touch, Look, Check.
“Anyone looking for support or information can speak to our expert nurses via our free, confidential Helpline on 0808 800 6000.”
ENDS
For information on breast screening eligibility, visit: https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/what-expect-breast-clinic-appointment/breast-screening
For information about breast cancer facts and stats, visit: https://breastcancernow.org/about-us/media/facts-statistics
For information about knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, visit: https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/have-i-got-breast-cancer/signs-symptoms-breast-cancer