Wolverhampton City Council is encouraging eligible women to attend routine breast screening appointments, citing below-average uptake in the city compared to national figures.
Routine breast screening can detect cancer at an early stage, often before it can be seen or felt. The earlier breast cancer is found, the more likely treatment is to be successful.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with around one in seven women expected to develop the disease during their lifetime.
Screening uptake concerns
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: "Breast screening uptake in Wolverhampton is currently below the national average, and we want to highlight the importance of raising awareness of the screening programme and encourage eligible women to attend when invited."
Councillor Ahmed added that checking breasts only takes a few moments and can help women become familiar with what is normal for them. "Most breast changes will not be cancer, but it is important to get any new or unusual changes checked as soon as possible as early detection is the best form of defence against cancer," she said.
Who is eligible and how to book
Women aged 50 to 70 who are registered with a GP are automatically invited for breast screening every three years. If you are eligible for breast screening, you will receive an invitation through the NHS. Attending your appointment could help detect breast cancer early, or before symptoms develop.
If you think you may have missed your appointment, or are aged 71 and would like to continue to have a screening appointment every three years, contact the Dudley, Wolverhampton and South West Staffordshire Breast Screening Service on 01384 244177.
Checking your own breasts
Research from Breast Cancer Now shows that more Black and South Asian women are checking their breasts regularly. However, the charity's polling found that 43% of women do not check their breasts regularly, while 15% have never checked their breasts for signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
For information about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and how to check your breasts, visit Breast Cancer Now. For information in alternative languages, visit Breast Cancer Now or Healthwave.