Put Yourself First | Breast Cancer Screening in North East London

The Put Yourself First campaign is a reminder to make time for breast screening when invited. It is aimed at women aged 50 to 71 living in North East London, particularly in areas where attendance has been lower.
 

By attending your breast screening appointment, you are making an important investment in your future. Screening helps to detect breast cancer at the earliest stage, when it is easier to treat and outcomes are more positive. When you put yourself first, you are also protecting your family, friends, and community – the people who rely on you every day.

Breast cancer screening is one of the most effective tools we have to catch breast cancer early. It involves having an X-ray of each breast, called a mammogram, which looks for signs of cancer that are too small to see or feel.

A breast screening appointment usually takes less than 30 minutes:

• You will be welcomed by a female healthcare professional called a mammographer.
• Each breast is placed on the X-ray machine and gently compressed for a few seconds while the image is taken.
• Two images are taken of each breast to give a clear and accurate picture

While the test may feel a little uncomfortable, it is very quick. The reassurance of knowing your results – or getting early treatment if changes are found – far outweighs the temporary discomfort. For most women, the outcome is the reassurance that everything looks normal.

The NHS breast screening programme invites women between the ages of 50 and 71 for screening every three years.

• Your first invitation will usually arrive sometime between your 50th and 53rd birthday.
• After that, you will automatically be invited for screening every three years until you turn 71.
• If you are aged 71 or over, you will not receive automatic invitations, but you can still request screening every three years by contacting your local breast screening service.
• It does not matter if you feel well, have no symptoms or have no family history of breast cancer – screening is offered to all women in this age group because it saves lives.

We know that attending breast screening can feel daunting. That is why we have worked with women from across North East London to share their experiences. These women are mothers, daughters, grandmothers, carers, workers, and community leaders – just like you.

In our campaign video, they explain why they decided to Put Yourself First, and how they found the process. By hearing from women who understand your concerns, we hope you will feel reassured that taking time for your health is both worthwhile and empowering.

Breast cancer screening can detect cancer at an early stage, even before any symptoms appear. This means that treatment can begin earlier, which greatly improves the chances of recovery.

Attending screening offers:

• Peace of mind if everything is normal.
• Reassurance that, if something is found, it is caught as early as possible.
• Confidence that you are doing something positive for yourself and your loved ones.

Many women tell us that they delayed their appointments because they were busy or afraid. One woman described it as a “gender hazard” – always putting herself last. This campaign is here to change that mindset. By choosing to attend, you are showing strength, courage, and care for both yourself and those closest to you. 
 

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

Find out more about the cancer screening programmes available: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/preventing-cancer/cancer-screening-programmes