Put Yourself First: Empowering women through breast screening

Written by: Paul Thomas

30/10/2025

North East London Cancer Alliance has proudly launched its latest breast cancer awareness initiative. Put Yourself First is a powerful campaign encouraging women aged 50 to 71 across north east London to prioritise their health by attending routine breast screening appointments.

At the heart of the campaign is a simple, yet resonant message: Your health is so important—not just for you, but for your loved ones around you. So put yourself first for once.

Harjeet Dhanota, Project Officer for North East London Cancer Alliance, says: “The campaign seeks to challenge the cultural and personal barriers that often lead women to delay or avoid screening, reminding them that early detection can save lives.

“We’ve followed the same, successful approach as our You Need To Know campaign, working directly with the women we are trying to target. Just as You Need To Know has led to earlier diagnosis of womb cancer, we hope that Put Yourself First will increase the uptake of breast screening.”

Real stories, real women

The campaign features authentic voices from local women, Farida, Tee, Ruksana, Pauline, and Stella, who share their personal journeys and reflections on breast screening. Their stories, captured in a series of heartfelt videos and posters, highlight the emotional and practical realities of putting one’s health first.

Stella, from Tower Hamlets, shares: “I even made it like a date – I did it, then I went shopping!”
Pauline, from Redbridge, reminds us: “Health is wealth.”
Ruksana, from Bow, reflects: “I was scared. But it was quick, gentle, and over before I knew it.”

These testimonials are not scripted. They are genuine, natural moments of courage and care, filmed during a dedicated photo and video shoot in May 2025.

A poster which says put yourself first at the top and underneath shows a woman sitting at home on an armchair smiling.

Inclusive and accessible

Recognising the diversity of north east London, the campaign materials have been translated into multiple languages including subtitles in Bengali, Urdu, Tamil, Gujarati, Polish, and Romanian. Voiceovers in Sylheti – the most commonly spoken dialect within the Bangladeshi community – helps ensure the message reaches all communities with clarity and cultural sensitivity.

Where to see it

The campaign is being rolled out across social media on Instagram and Facebook.

Community engagement

The campaign has been shaped by extensive community feedback, including focus groups and one-on-one interviews. Participants praised the campaign’s empowering tone and relatable visuals, with one contributor noting: “It’s a powerful message… something that we don’t do, most of us—put ourselves first.”

Learn more

Visit the campaign landing page to explore the stories, access translated materials, and find out how to book your screening:
www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/put-yourself-first

Read about signs and symptoms of breast cancer: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/signs-and-symptoms-breast-cancer

Find out about breast cancer screening: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/breast-screening

Watch our animated video on breast screening: https://youtu.be/6SAhNkuAF_4

Listen to our podcast on breast screening:

Part 1:

Part 2: