Cancer screening saves lives

2:09pm Thursday 10th April 2008

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This month the NHS is celebrating 20 years of the breast and cervical screening programme. Charlotte Shepherd assesses how many lives have been saved by these scans.

DETECTING cancer at an early stage can make all the difference for women who are faced with the terrifying diagnosis of breast or cervical cancer.

The Government introduced scanning programmes aimed at early detection in 1988 and since then it is estimated 100,000 breast cancers and 400,000 significant cervical abnormalities have been identified.

Cervical screening can detect early cell changes that could lead to cancer of the cervix and is offered to women aged 25-64 who automatically receive an appointment through their GP.

Dr Karin Denton, director of the South West Regional Cytology Training Centre, told the Standard that screening was capable of picking up pre-cursor lesions 10 years before a cancer developed. "Screening prevents 80 per cent of cases ever developing," she said. "It is one of the most positive steps a woman can take."

However, the screening programme has been a victim of its own success and the number of women in the South West aged 25-29 being tested is falling.

"The number of deaths drops every year," Dr Denton explained. "In the past people might know someone who had cervical cancer but now it is quite rare. This has removed the driver to get screened.

"It is worrying and we don't know why. People lead busy lives and feel a bit invincible."

Jo Martin is assistant practice manager at Gable House surgery in Malmesbury.

"Since I started work there is more patient awareness," she said. "Our message to women is when you get a reminder please make an appointment. People are more sexually active from an early age, so it is more important."

Breast cancer screening, which involves an X-ray (mammogram) of each breast, is offered to women in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire aged between 50 and 70 although the NHS plans to drop the screening age to 47.

Chris Azzorpardi, a mum-of-three from Coates, was 49 when she detected a lump in the breast and was just outside the age for breast screening.

While she picked up the lump by self-examination not every cancer can be picked up in this way.

"There are lumps that can only be detected by a scan and not by touch," she said.

Three years on and fit and well again after a mastectomy and six treatments of chemotherapy, Chris welcomes the proposal to extend the age limit for scans. "I'm all for it because there is no age to breast cancer," Chris explained.

Gloucestershire breast screening is a joint venture between Cheltenham and Gloucester District Health Authorities and the Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund.

Scans are carried out at the Cobalt Unit's premises at Linton House in Cheltenham and there are two mobile screening units available.

Caroline Dobson is the centre's superintendent radiographer. "Early detection means mortality decreases. There is more chance of women surviving," she explained.

Gloucestershire has an 80 per cent uptake of women coming for scans, which is good compared to the national uptake.

However, the percentage drops for younger women aged 50 when they are invited for their first mammogram.

"The lowest uptake is in younger women. We think it is because they are a lot busier and in full-time work. The message we would like to get out to them is please come," said Caroline.

Women across the Cotswolds could benefit from an ambitious project to improve and expand the NHS breast screening service which the Cobalt Appeal Fund is working towards.

There are two mobile breast screening units to cover women in Wiltshire. Women who need further investigation will be seen at the Breast Screening Unit at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

Sarah Taylor, director of the Wiltshire Breast Screening Unit, said there was a 70-80 per cent uptake in the county. "This compares favourably with national figures" she said.

Women who fail to attend are written to and asked to make another appointment.

"We would encourage all women invited to attend because, at the moment, regular mammograms are the best way to find early breast cancer and it has been shown that early detection of breast cancers increases survival," said Sarah.

To find out more about the Cobalt Appeal Unit Fund call 01242 535900 or go to their website www.cobaltappeal.com

BREAST SCREENING: A PERSONAL STORY"My mother died of breast cancer at the age of 57 so I have always been very aware of the disease.

"I was sixty when I was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine mammogram at the mobile breast screening unit in Cirencester.

"After 10 days I was called back to Linton House in Cheltenham for a second mammogram. On the same day I saw a physician and had a biopsy straight away. They showed me the X-ray. It looked like a spiders web. They knew from the first X-ray that it was cancer.

"Within four or five days of the second mammogram I saw the consultant surgeon, Mr Bristol and was given a lumpectomy. After two weeks I started a three-month course of chemotherapy. It wasn't nice but I had wonderful support from the nurses. This was followed by a three-week course of radiotherapy.

"I now feel 110 percent. I'm doing more than ever. We are terribly lucky in this area. We have a centre of excellence in Cheltenham and the Cobalt Unit is amazing.

"I can't encourage people enough to get screened. The facilities are there so use them. Screening is a few seconds of discomfort but it could be a life-saver."

Factfile:

* Over 70 million women have been screened for breast and cervical cancer since 1988.

* Over 100,000 breast cancers and 400,000 significant cervical abnormalities have been detected since the programmes began in 1988.

* It is estimated that 1,400 lives are saved every year through breast screening.

* It is estimated that 4,500 lives are saved every year through cervical screening.

* There are around 80 breast screening units across the UK.