Breast Screening

Key Messages

• All women, and some transgender individuals, aged 50 – 70 are eligible for breast screening every 3 years.

• You’re 5 times more likely to survive breast cancer if it’s caught in its earliest stage.

• Breast screening saves around 130 lives every year in Scotland.

• During the screening, they will take 4 x-rays of your breasts (known as mammograms), which only takes about 10 minutes and could save your life.

• Screening can find breast cancer before symptoms are noticeable. This will include some cancers that may not spread and may not cause you harm, but unfortunately doctors cannot always tell whether or not the cancer will spread in the future.

• 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer.

Further Information

Want to find out more about breast screening or book an appointment?

Phone: 01224 550570

Email: gram.breastscreening@nhs.scot

Visit: www.nhsinform.scot/breastscreening

Training Courses

For professionals working to promote breast screening, online training modules are available to enhance your understanding and communication of the programme. The modules cover: 

  • How the breast screening process works, including mammography. 
  • Addressing common misconceptions about breast screening. 
  • Encouraging informed participation among eligible individuals. 

Access the modules here: NHS Scotland National Screening Programmes

Resources

If you wish to order any resources (like leaflets, posters etc.) in English, you can do so for free at HPAC

You can register for a free account and order resources for collection at Summerfield House or delivery at any NHS premise you work within. To find out more information about this service, please visit: Health Information Resources Service

Translations, large print, BSL and easy read versions are available for download at Breast screening | NHS inform