Charity reveals breast cancer screen shortage in over 70s

Women aged 70 and over are “cast adrift” because many are not aware of their right to continue receiving breast screening services, according to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a charity.

It has published new statistics showing that nine out of ten women in this age group have never requested their own screening appointment, while 97 per cent said they do not realise they are at risk of breast cancer above this age.

However, Breakthrough Breast Cancer claims that nearly a third of UK breast cancers occur each year in women aged over 70, which is worrying since this group of women are least likely to check their breasts regularly.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer said that the current referral system was “clearly not working”.

“Increasing age is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer but screening and breast awareness messages do not appear to be reaching women over 70,” he stated.

Mr Hughes concluded: “More focus on raising awareness of screening among these women is needed and this must include improvements in the way messages are communicated.”

Dr Mike Mitchell, director of the NHS Breast Screening Programme in south-east London, told BBC One’s Lunchtime News programme that he wanted to “very clearly emphasise” that women aged over 70 were eligible for tests.

He added that patients were given a credit-card sized warning for those attending their last scheduled screening before their 70th birthday.