Record 4.61 million women screened, 750,000 miss mammograms

Recent NHS England data reveals a record 4.61 million women are up to date with their breast screenings, representing the highest participation rate in years, although nearly 750,000 women still missed their appointments in the 2023-24 period. This year, 70% of women attended their screenings, an increase from 64.6% the previous year. A national campaign has been launched to encourage attendance, featuring testimonials from celebrities and cancer survivors who emphasize the importance of early detection. In the South West, 27% of eligible women are not up to date with screenings, with 12% never having attended. Successful early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes, as demonstrated by women like Angela, who caught her grade 1 breast cancer early through routine screening. Health officials continue to stress the necessity of these screenings to save lives and improve cancer survival rates.