Breast Screening

The Breast Screening Service is part of the National Breast Screening Programme and provides a free breast screening service for eligible well women throughout the Southern Trust.

Important update on Breast Screening – 27 July 2020

Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage, often before there are any symptoms. To do this, an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment.

Who do we screen?

Women aged 50 to 70
Women aged between 50 and 70 years old are invited for breast screening every three years. If women are registered with a GP, they will automatically be invited for a breast screening appointment before their 53rd birthday. We invite each GP practice for screening in turn, so women will not necessarily get their invitation in the year that they turn 50.

If you are over 50 and unsure when you will be called for your screening appointment, contact the Breast Screening Office, Tel 028 3756 0820.

Women over 70

As agreed regionally by the Public Health Agency, the Trust will wait until the current Breast Screening waiting lists have reduced until women over 70 years will be offered the option to self refer for Breast Screening services.

Special requirements

If you have a disability or use a wheelchair, you may need a longer appointment. Please contact the Breast Screening Office to let us know.

Please also contact the office if you have had a mammogram in the last six months:

• Breast Screening Office Tel: 028 3756 0820

If English is not your first language and you need a translator please contact the screening office.

Your appointment date

When you receive your letter, you will be given a date, time and location for your appointment. Please contact us (number above) if:
• your appointment time is not convenient for you
• you do not wish to attend your screening appointment. This will allow someone else to use the appointment slot

Mobile Units

In the SHSCT screening is provided on one of our two specialist digital mobile units. They rotate between, Lurgan Hospital, Dromalane Newry, Armagh Community Hospital, Banbridge  Health Centre and South Tyrone Hospitals. Details of the dates and locations are available at www.cancerscreening.hscni.net

75% of women attend their appointment but there is still room for improvement.

“We want to save as many lives as possible by encouraging early detection of breast cancer, so to help make the process much more convenient and accessible to women, we are bringing the units to more community locations throughout the Trust area.”
Dr Linda Johnston – Director of Breast Screening

Please note: The mobile screening units are very compact, therefore only if it is essential may a friend/ relative accompany you. Also please avoid bringing children onto the mobile unit.

Assessment

Sometimes the mammograms do not give enough information and a further examination is needed before we can decide on a result. If this is the case you will receive an appointment to attend our assessment clinic at the Glenanne Unit Craigavon Area Hospital.

Approximately 4 out of 100 women who have breast screening will be asked to come back to our clinic for a further examination. This additional appointment is part of routine screening and for most women invited back nothing of concern will be found. Any women invited to an assessment clinic will be able to speak to a member of staff by telephone 028 3759 0821 if they want more information before attending.

Video for Women with learning disabilities

Breast Screening – A film produced by and for women with learning disabilities to explain what’s involved in and for some clients, to ease the fear of having a mammogram.
Whilst breast screening is always an individual choice, the film is intended to ease the fear that some women may experience in attending a breast screening and to encourage women with learning disabilities have the test.

The film can be watched in full, or in short segments, showing different aspects of the screening journey;

• Do the test: Go for it!
• Segment 1: Do the test: trailer
• Segment 2: Do the test: what do you call them?
• Segment 3: Do the test: Julia’s story
• Segment 4: Do the test: what is cancer?
• Segment 5: Do the test: what is a mammogram?

Monthly Screening

More information

• Breast Screening in the Southern Trust
• NI Breast Screening Service Leaflet    Audio version