Breast Cancer Now, warns nearly 1.5 million women have not had vital breast screening due to pandemic crisis

The UK’s leading breast cancer charity has reported a 50% rise in the number of women who have not had breast screening since services restarted in summer 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will only compound the crisis faced by the NHS and British women, due to the delay in breast cancer diagnoses. In addition to the 1.5 million fewer women who had screening between March 2020 and May 2021 almost a million women missed breast screening during COVID-19-related cessation of screening services.

Breast Cancer Now estimates that as many as 12 000 people could have undiagnosed breast cancer: it is well known that early diagnosis leads to better prognosis and reduces death from breast cancer, while conversely undiagnosed breast cancer can be very dangerous, so this is gravely concerning.

Vicki Kiesel comments “I fully support BreastCancer Now’s call on the government to identify those women currently living with undiagnosed breast cancer. We know that the earlier breast cancer is identified the better the chances of survival so it is vital that women are supported to attend these vital screenings. The importance of early screening is one of the reasons why accurate risk assessment of women is so important and just serves to illsustrate the importance of women knowing their family history and potentially risk factors. ”

To read more about Breast Cancer Now’s concerns please go to: Breast Cancer Now