Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. Around 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed during their lifetime.
The NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme offers free breast screening every 3 years to anyone aged 50 to 71 who is registered with a GP as female. Screening uses a test called a mammogram (an x-ray of the breasts) to look for early signs of cancer.
Important: If you have symptoms of breast cancer at any age, see your GP straight away, even if you have recently attended a screening appointment.
About the breast cancer screening programme
Screening can detect breast cancers early, when they may be too small to see or feel. It is a way of testing people to see if they show any early signs of cancer, when treatment has the best chance of working.
It is important to complete breast cancer screening, even if you feel fit and healthy.
- Make sure you are registered with a GP (anyone in England can register for free).
- Check your GP has your current address, so your invitation goes to the right place.
- You will automatically get your first invite for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53. You’ll then be invited every 3 years until you turn 71
- You will be sent an appointment with details of when and where your screening will take place.
- Screening usually takes place at a hospital or local screening unit. In some areas, a mobile screening van may be used – the equipment and quality are exactly the same.
- The test itself is a mammogram: a quick, safe x-ray that takes images of each breast.
- Over 71: You won’t be invited automatically, but you can request an appointment by contacting your local breast screening service.
- Trans and non-binary people: You may be invited automatically depending on your GP registration. If not, speak to your GP or call your local screening service. More guidance is available at Best for My Chest.
Resources and support
Thames Valley Cancer Alliance resources
We have created a set of interactive style videos about the NHS cancer screening programmes, available in Hindi, Polish, Gujarati, Nepali, Punjabi and British Sign Language (BSL). These are designed to support conversations between GPs and patients about the benefits of cancer screening and how it works. Watch our screening videos here