About breast screening
Women who are between the ages of 50 and 71 and registered with a GP practice will be invited for breast screening on a three yearly cycle. This is called routine breast screening.
Women aged 71 and over are not automatically invited for breast screening, however they can contact us to self refer for a screening appointment every 3 years.
The invitation
You’ll get a letter in the post inviting you to attend.
If you have never been screened before - you will receive your invitation for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53.
If you have previously been screened, you will get your invitation approximately 3 years after your last screening appointment when we are next screening your GP practice.
If you need to change the date, time or location of your appointment, please contact the screening office.
If you have a disability or have breast implants, please contact the screening office.
Screening locations
Please see our full list of screening locations here.
Screening appointments are offered at Princess Anne Hospital and on 3 mobile screening units that travel between our 17 locations in the community. The mobile units visit each screening location at least once every 3 years. The screening location in your invitation letter is determined by the location of your GP practice. Take a virtual tour of the breast screening unit.
If you have a disability or you cannot manage a set of metal stairs, we can offer you an appointment at Princess Anne Hospital. Find out more about screening for women with disabilities.
Screening appointment
The breast screening appointment takes about 30 minutes. Please do not arrive more than 5 minutes before your appointment time.
When arrive, you will be greeted by a member of staff, who will check your appointment and personal details.
The radiographer will ask you about any symptoms or history of breast disease that you may have, explain what happens during the mammogram and answer any questions about breast screening.
If you are happy to proceed, the radiographer then takes two x-rays of each breast (a mammogram). Once this is completed, the examination is finished.
What is breast screening like?
Take the virtual tour of the breast screening unit.
Screening results
After your routine screening, your mammograms are reviewed and reported at the Princess Anne Hospital, and the results are sent to you and your GP within two weeks.
There are 3 possible results:
- Normal - no abnormalities were seen and you will be routinely recalled for screening in 3 years time (if under 71 at that time)
- Recall for assessment - a potential abnormality has been identified and needs to be assessed
- Technical recall - for technical reasons, some images need to be repeated.
About five to eight per cent of women are recalled for further mammograms.
All mammograms and ultrasound images that we have taken are retained in digital files for comparison with any further breast imaging you may have. If you move away, your digital images can be sent to the screening unit in that area.