THE number of women being screened for breast cancer has increased in Portsmouth.
Women aged between 53 and 70 have an increased risk of developing breast cancer and are offered routine screening.
Between March 2010 and April 2011, 17,075 women were invited for screening in Portsmouth.
Of that figure 72.6 per cent of women – 12,392 – were checked.
In 2011/2012, 17,482 women were given letters, and 12,804 – 73.2 per cent – were screened, an increase of 0.6 per cent compared with the last 12 months.
It means the area is screening above the national target of 70 per cent.
But health officials in the city believe more needs to be done.
Dr Jim Hogan, lead for the Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group, said: ‘I’m delighted our screening rates continue to rise.
‘We’re meeting the national minimum standard of 70 per cent of women being screened, but we still have some way to go to reach our own target of 80 per cent.
‘It’s a relatively simple procedure, which can offer great peace of mind and help our efforts to ensure early detection of problems and I would strongly encourage all women to take up their offers to attend when they receive them.’
A bus with information on breast screening will be stopping off in Portsmouth next week.
The team, which will be giving away free cupcakes, will be urging women aged 50 to 70 to go to their breast screening appointment.
The street team will be on hand to direct the women to the best sources of information about breast screening.
Women will also be given information on a business card on the ‘five point code’ to when checking their breasts:
n Know what is normal for you.
n Know what changes to look for, such as lumps, pain, discharge from the nipple, or anything else unusual.
n Look at and feel your breasts regularly for any changes.
n Tell your GP about any changes straight away.
n Go for breast screening when invited.
The bus will be in Palmerston Road, Southsea, from 9.30am to 4.30pm, on Monday, March 18. For more information, call (023) 9222 2122.
Or people can visit 
checkthese.org.
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