Information for Healthcare Professionals, Patients and Resources
NHS Breast Cancer Screening checks if you could have breast cancer. Anyone registered with a GP as female will be invited for NHS breast screening every 3 years between the ages of 50 and 71. You'll get a letter in the post inviting you. You'll automatically get your invite for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53.
For more information click here to access the NHS Website.
Female lifetime screening pathway video’ available in 10 different languages
Public Health England (PHE) provides a range of guidance documents for professionals, and information leaflets for the public.
Reducing inequalities and variation in screening participation – this link provides guidance and resources to help reduce inequalities and has a specific link to Breast screening: identifying and reducing inequalities (this page provides a wealth of information, guidance and resources on reducing inequalities in breast screening. It includes information on reasons why women may not attend breast screening, making reasonable adjustments, understanding your population, preferred language, women with a physical disability and women with a learning disability (where it includes a link to Population screening support for carers (GOV.UK), which includes information on reasonable adjustments, making a best interests decision etc).
It also includes information on the following patient groups:
- Women from Gypsy and Traveller communities
- Homeless women
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people
- Women with severe mental illness
The other useful area is the ‘Breast screening: information leaflets’ section, where you will find both standard and easy-read patient leaflets which explain breast screening. The NHS breast screening: helping you decide (GOV.UK) leaflet accompanies the breast cancer screening invitations that are sent out nationally and are available to download in 10 different languages including Polish, Urdu, Romanian and Chinese (simplified and traditional) and the Breast screening: awareness posters could help you to raise awareness of breast screening within your local communities. Please also see the patient information section below for patient resources that are available.
- Prevent Breast Cancer Resource page
- Breast Cancer Now Resource Page
- CRUK Resource Page
- Macmillan Resource Page
- Coppafeel Resource page
- KnowYourLemons Lemon Shop
If you would like to support your patients in making an informed decision about breast screening, you can find some useful links below: (Select the highlighted section to be redirected).
Breast screening (mammogram) (NHS) – this will provide patients with useful information about when they will be invited for breast cancer screening, how to book and what happens at their appointment.
Patients can also access the following links and information from this page:
- When you’ll be invited and who should go
- Breast screening: easy-read guide – (GOV.UK). This is helpful for people with learning disabilities, low levels of literacy and non-English speakers.
- Breast cancer in women - symptoms (NHS) - this link provides information on the symptoms, when to get medical advice, what causes breast cancer, how it is diagnosed, the main treatments and information on living with breast cancer.
- How patients should become ‘breast aware’ and how patients should check their breasts.
- Macmillan Cancer Support - Breast Care for women is an easy-read booklet about breast cancer, how to check your breasts, changes to look for and breast screening for people with a learning disability.
There is also information for trans or non-binary patients on whether they will be invited.
- How to decide if you want breast screening: within this link is also the following information which patients may find helpful:
- Overview of breast cancer in men
- LGBT Foundation: Breast cancer and breast awareness
- LGBTQ+ people and Cancer Booklet has information about, navigating healthcare, cancer screening, and treatment.
- Predictive genetic tests for cancer risk genes (NHS) – patients who are worried about having a high-risk cancer gene can find more information here.
You can also direct patients who cannot read or do not like written words to the Beyond Words breast screening picture story, which includes a suggested storyline for family members, carers or health professionals to refer to.
The Do The Test – Go For It! - is a short film which features women with learning disabilities encouraging others not to be scared of screening and to have the test if they want to.
If patients want more breast cancer information and support, the following UK Charities have lots of further information available on their websites:
- Breast Cancer Now
- Cancer Research UK
- Macmillan Cancer Support
- CoppaFeel!
- Prevent Breast Cancer Charity UK | Predict Prevent Protect
Breast Cancer Now has published public health videos available in a range of different languages and BSL.
Contacts
Patients can find their local breast screening services here
- Sheffield Breast Screening - Royal Hallamshire Hospital, S10 2JF - 01142711920
- Barnsley Breast Screening - Barnsley Hospital, S75 2EP- 01226432100
- Rotherham Breast Screening- Rotherham Hospital, S60 2UD- 01709424807
- Doncaster & Bassetlaw Breast Screening- Devonshire House DN1 2DJ- 01302644966