Breast screening
The breast screening programme is a routine X-ray examination of the breast. Breast screening can detect very small cancers. Small cancers are usually at a very early stage and are more easily treated.
Breast screening is currently offered at 3-yearly intervals to women aged from 50 up to their 71st birthday in England.
Breast screening for women over 70 years is available upon request.
Please call: 0115 993 6649 to arrange this.
Currently there is a trial to examine the effectiveness of offering some women one extra screen from 47 up to their 50th birthday and one from 71 to 73.
Women will first be invited for screening within the 3 years after their 50th birthday, although in some areas they will be invited from the age of 47 as part of the age extension trial.
Women may be eligible for breast screening before the age of 50, and/or at different screening intervals, if they have a very high risk of developing breast cancer.
Family history breast screening
For more information, please visit the frequently asked questions section here.
Implants
If you have implants you will normally be able to have a mammogram, but please inform the screening adminstration staff beforehand.
Pregnant or breast feeding
Please rebook your screening appointment a minimum of three months after giving birth and a minimum of three months after stopping breast feeding.
Invitations for routine screening
The breast screening service invites women by GP practice, so the first invitation may not be received in the year women turn 50. All women registered with a doctor will be invited before their 53rd birthday. Appointments for screening may be offered at one of the following:
- Breast Institute, City Hospital
- Ropewalk House, in the centre of Nottingham
- Mobile screening unit which visits areas distant from Nottingham City
The letter of invitation will include:
- A leaflet about breast screening
- A map of the location
- The date and time of appointment
Attending for routine breast screening
Your mammogram will be performed by one of the radiographic team. The staff performing your mammogram will be female.
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. At least two pictures will be taken of each breast. Mammograms only take a few minutes to complete.
You will receive your result in the post within three weeks. If you have not heard from us within three weeks please contact us on: 0115 993 6649.
Attending for a second visit for breast screening
Some women may be asked to come for a second visit. All second visits will take place at the Breast Institute, normally on a Wednesday morning.
It may be necessary to have another mammogram or one or two tests during this visit. When you arrive for this visit a specialist team will explain what will happen and keep you informed at all stages.