Screening in Southwark
Southwark offers services for women to help detect and prevent breast and cervical cancers. Most women know that they should see their doctor as soon as they notice anything unusual about their breasts — whether it be a lump, dimple, puckering, discharge from the nipple, or anything else that’s new and different or worries them at all. But less than half of the over-50s are aware that breast cancer is most common in older women - even though eight in every ten cases occur in their age-group.
Breast screening
Nearly 50% of women invited for breast screening in Southwark don’t go. Every woman aged 50 and 70 registered with a GP in Southwark is routinely sent an invitation to have a free mammogram every three years as part of the national NHS breast screening programme. This means going along to the breast screening unit in Camberwell in the centre of the borough to have the x-ray. In the great majority of cases their breasts are found to be absolutely normal. But if a cancer is detected, it’s usually very tiny and there’s every chance it will be successfully treated. Breast screening is simple, quick, accurate and free.
Cervical screening
All women in Southwark between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a free cervical screening test every three to five years. All women in this age bracket are invited for a smear or LBC test by their GP. However nearly 30% of eligible women don’t go (locality profile data). Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in a woman's cervix (the neck of the womb). Early detection and treatment can prevent 75 per cent of cancers developing.
Our advice at Southwark to eligible women is don’t miss out on a free and effective service that could save your life.
Eileen Hewer received an invitation to breast screening shortly after her 50th birthday. She expected everything to be fine, but found she had early stage breast cancer. Following treatment Eileen made a full recovery.
Eileen encourages women to take up the offer of free breast screening “Everyone can find an excuse not to - but it doesn’t take very long. Early screening made all the difference to me and if I hadn’t gone it might have been a different story today. Don’t rely on thinking you will be able to feel a lump.”