Local MP urges women not to ignore the invite that could save your life

3.00.26pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 25th May 2006

As Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer, Annette Brooke MP hosted the group's annual reception in the House of Commons on the campaign theme of breast screening.

Annette Brooke highlights the importance of mammograms

This year's reception was in honour of former Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle, Patsy Calton, who died of breast cancer last year and who had been Chair of the All Party Group for Breast Cancer. Patsy and Annette were elected as MPs in 2001, shared an office and a researcher in Westminster and were very close friends. Annette Brooke took over as Chair of the All Party Group last year to continue the work of her friend.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer's current campaign aims to encourage all women aged 50-70 across the country to attend their breast-screening appointments when invited and, if aged 70 or over, to phone or write to their local breast screening unit to make an appointment.

At the reception at Westminster, MPs heard that breast cancer is now the UK's most common cancer. Over 41,000 women are diagnosed with the disease each year in the UK, making it one of the highest incidences in the world. Early detection and diagnosis are vital to improve a woman's chances of surviving breast cancer and screening is one of the most effective ways of ensuring this. Sadly, over 13,000 women still die every year from breast cancer.

Annette Brooke MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole said:

"Women need to know that early diagnosis of breast cancer saves lives. Around 1,400 lives saved in England each year by the NHS Breast Screening Programme.

"The biggest known risk factor in developing breast cancer is age, with around 80 per cent of cases occurring in post-menopausal women, aged 50 or over.

"It's a sobering thought that one woman in nine in my constituency of Mid Dorset will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. The good news is that more women than ever are surviving breast cancer, and this in part is down to the NHS Breast Screening Programme.

"The earlier breast cancer is detected the better your chances of survival. Breast screening is a vital and effective part of the UK's efforts to reduce the death toll from this devastating disease but it's essential that women take advantage of this by attending when invited."

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Breakthrough Breast Cancer's research shows that 1 in 6 women do not attend their screening appointments because it was not at a convenient time. It is important to note that you can rearrange your appointment to a more suitable time for you.

Since screening was introduced in the UK in 1998 the programme has screened more than 14 million women and has detected over 80,000 cancers. If it wasn't for screening, many of these cancers may not have been detected until at a much later stage.

Your risk of breast cancer does not stop after the age of 70. Women over this age are entitled to, and can request, a routine screening appointment every three years, whether or not symptoms are apparent. Your GP can arrange this for you.

Breast cancer is the UK's most common cancer. Over 41,000 women and 300 men diagnosed with the disease each year and around 13,000 women die from the disease annually - over 1,000 women every month.

For more information about Breakthrough Breast Cancer visit

www.breakthrough.org.uk