3D (tomosynthesis) screening mammograms at OneWelbeck enable early breast cancer detection. With our personalised service, you can find peace of mind and prioritise your breast health.
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Mammography is a test designed to detect breast abnormalities in women before they are aware of a lump or any other symptom. Early detection significantly increases survival and is associated with less extensive treatment.
The only universally accepted and effective method of breast screening for normal-risk women over the age of 40 is by the use of an X-ray test called a mammogram. This requires a low dose of radiation, approximately the same as the radiation all people are exposed to by taking a return transatlantic flight.
At our Enhanced Breast Screening centre, we use 3D (tomosynthesis) mammography, which produces better quality, detailed images, particularly for younger women with more dense breast tissue.
A screening mammogram is offered regularly to women who have no worrying signs or symptoms. These are important, as they can detect very early signs of any abnormalities before the patient can feel anything.
Early detection of any abnormality is important so that diagnosis and treatments are less invasive and the disease has not had a chance to spread to other parts of the body.
Tiny areas of calcifications can be seen on a mammogram, which would be missed on a breast ultrasound, as sound waves do not pick up calcifications. These areas on the mammogram can be benign, but they can also be the early stages of certain types of cancer, so early detection is vital.
If a patient is worried about a symptom – be it a lump, pain, nipple thickening or discharge, or a change in breast shape or size – mammograms are also performed in our diagnostic clinic. The patient is assessed by one of our breast surgeons during a triple assessment appointment, and all necessary diagnostic tests are carried out.
Regular breast screenings play an essential role in the early detection and prevention of breast cancer. In fact, annual screenings have been shown to decrease the risk of death related to breast cancer by more than 25%, highlighting the impact of taking proactive health measures.
The 3D screening mammogram we offer at OneWelbeck is the most technologically advanced screening unit in the UK. By booking a mammogram with us, we will provide you with a personalised experience with a 30-minute mammogram appointment for £315.
We offer 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) as the standard for our private mammogram screenings. This digital technology allows a much more detailed view the first time around, reducing the number of additional images and re-calls you might need at a different centre.
Every 3D screening mammogram appointment takes 20 minutes, meaning you have enough time with the radiographer to receive a completely personalised experience.
Our consultant radiologists are experts in breast imaging and read your mammograms (along with Profound AI iCAD) whilst you wait. If anything further is necessary or recommended while you're with us, we aim to provide it within the same visit.
We offer 3D mammogram and bilateral breast ultrasound together for £525.
You can have a private screening mammogram from the age of 40.
The NHS Breast Screening Programme invites all women between the ages of 50 and 70, who are registered with a GP, for a mammogram every 3 years.
At our Enhanced Breast Screening centre, we recommend having a private screening mammogram “in the middle” (every 18 months), to ensure potential abnormalities are identified and treated as soon as possible. It's important that wherever you have your mammograms done that the facility has access to your previous images so that any changes can be monitored.
Women who have a family history of breast cancer should also consider having a mammogram every year once they turn 40, as they are at higher risk of breast cancer. We also recommend a bilateral breast ultrasound to complement the mammogram as another method of looking at the breast tissue.
If you’re unsure how regularly you should be having a mammogram, please don’t hesitate to contact our Women’s Health Centre by emailing bookings.womenshealth@onewelbeck.com.
Unlike the NHS, which sends the results of your mammogram in the post within 2 weeks of your appointment, our mammographer and consultant radiologist can explain your results to you on the very same day as your scan.
We pay meticulous attention to detail when performing our 3D screening mammograms. If anything abnormal is seen on your mammogram, further tests may be required, such as a bilateral breast ultrasound scan, which we can do in the same visit. Ultrasound is often recommended to women who have very dense breast tissue.
If the radiologist is concerned about an area identified on the imaging, a small tissue sample (a biopsy) may need to be taken. If this is done, the samples are sent to our off-site laboratories, with results usually available within 48 hours.
At our Enhanced Breast Screening clinic, we guarantee a personalised service from start to finish.
When having your mammogram, you will be asked to undress from the waist up. A female radiographer who takes your mammogram will ask you about any breast problems, explain the procedure and be available for you to ask any questions. This should only take about 30 minutes from start to finish.
Many women find having a mammogram temporarily uncomfortable. A few may find it painful, but only for a few seconds. The mammographer will place one breast at a time between two special plates on the mammogram machine. She will take two or more images of each breast. Your breast needs to be pressed gently but firmly between the plates for a few seconds to help keep you still and get clear images; this also reduces the amount of radiation the breast receives.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, causing approximately 11,500 deaths in women each year. However, the survival rate from the disease has been steadily improving over time; currently, around 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer will survive their cancer for 10 years or more after diagnosis.
Screening does not prevent cancer, but lives are saved, and breast tissue can be conserved as screening can find cancer at an early stage when it is too small to see or feel. Breast cancers detected by screening tend to be smaller, with better prognostic features such as a lower grade of malignancy and less likelihood of lymph node involvement. This reduces the requirement for a mastectomy to half the number of cases compared to women whose breast cancers are found because of a lump or other symptoms.
Having a breast cancer screening between the ages of 40 and 49 reduces the chance of a woman passing away from breast cancer by 25%, while annual screening after the age of 50 can reduce this likelihood even further, by 25% to 30%. Breast screening now saves 1,300 lives every year in the UK.
The earlier cancer is detected, the quicker treatment can be provided, increasing the survival rate. This is why regular screening appointments are so important, as they can be used to detect signs of cancer earlier.
If you're experiencing breast-related symptoms, your pathway can be slightly different to a regular mammogram screening.
Breast screening picks up most breast cancers, but it misses breast cancer in about 1 in 2,500 women screened. This can happen no matter how well-trained and skilled the consultant radiologists reading mammograms are.
Some women will be diagnosed and treated for cancer that would never have otherwise been found and would not have become life-threatening. This is referred to as overtreatment and is the main risk of screening. Unfortunately, it is not possible with the current state of scientific knowledge to make a judgment as to whether some cancers could be left with little or no treatment once diagnosed.
At the present time, all breast cancers discovered are treated according to established protocols while research continues to develop treatment pathways, which in future may be decided by individual tumour genetic and molecular make-up.
Sometimes a mammogram will not look normal, and you will be asked to undergo tests such as a needle biopsy, but cancer is not there. This is called a false positive result. Sometimes a mammogram will look normal, even if a cancer is there. This is called a false negative result. You should remain breast aware and always report any significant symptom, such as a new lump, skin dimpling or bloody nipple discharge.
X-rays can very rarely cause cancer. Having regular screening appointments can be life-saving and is far more likely to detect cancer than cause a tumour.
Breast awareness is an important part of caring for your body. If you get to know how your breasts normally look and feel, you will be more likely to spot any changes that could be signs of breast cancer. This is important even if you have been for breast screening.
Things to look out for include:
If you have any change to your breast, you should make an appointment to see your doctor straight away. You may not have cancer, but if you do, being diagnosed and treated at an early stage may mean that you are more likely to survive breast cancer.
Our mammographers will always be happy to discuss breast awareness in more detail should you like further information.
We understand that going for a mammogram can be a daunting and uncomfortable experience. That’s why we’ve taken great care to ensure you feel at ease every step of the way.
Located in central London, our clinic is easily accessible. Here, we have created a relaxing environment that has been purpose-built with your needs in mind. Every screening appointment has 30 minutes allocated, meaning that your examination won’t feel rushed or stressful. You will also have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you wish.
Our lead mammographer has over 30 years of experience and, working with our team of radiologists, will develop clear images to spot any slight abnormalities. Offering a calm and friendly demeanour, they ensure every patient feels as relaxed and cared for as possible.
We make sure to always have a radiologist in the centre every day, ensuring your mammogram results are not only assessed immediately but also shared with you at the end of your appointment. We can then advise whether any further testing is required.
At OneWelbeck we use cutting-edge technology to create better images than a standard mammogram. By using digital mammography, our radiographers ensure that breast radiologists receive as much information as possible to make an accurate assessment.
Using the power of artificial intelligence (AI), we can further enhance the level of interpretation and analysis of the images produced by a digital mammogram. We use a system called ProFound AI® Solutions for this, which compares your mammography images against those it has previously learned from. This acts as another pair of eyes for our doctors, helping them identify subtle changes that may be hard to detect with the naked eye.
Our technology also enables us to assess breast density using a software called Quantra. Dense breasts can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, as well as making abnormalities harder to identify on a mammogram image. This technology allows us to determine whether a follow-up ultrasound is needed.
If your standard screening mammogram shows any abnormalities, you have various options in terms of your follow-up care.
If you choose to have further investigations at OneWelbeck, which could include biopsies, scans and minor procedures. We will be there to support you each step of the way so you can make the right decisions for your breast health. We will also be completely transparent about our competitive pricing to help you understand the costs involved.
If you have private health insurance, we're covered by all major private medical insurers in the UK, who will typically offer cover from the point at which abnormalities are found on a mammogram.
Alternatively, we can support your pathway with the NHS by providing you with your full report and transferring your images to your chosen NHS breast clinic. We will then continue to monitor your progress to ensure you don't become lost in the system and double-check whether you received the necessary follow-up appointments our radiologist recommended.
This means, to complement the national screening programme, you may still receive NHS mammogram appointments every 3 years while also attending yearly mammograms with us at OneWelbeck.
We recommend that all women start having regular screening appointments from the age of 40. You can self-refer (book directly without a GP referral) for a private screening mammogram with us from this age.
We also recommend being screened annually, as opposed to every 3 years, to ensure any abnormalities are identified at the earliest possible stage.
Once you reach the age of 71, will no longer receive NHS Breast Screening invites, but you can still have regular screening mammograms.
It's still important to be breast aware at this age, and to know that screening is still available to you should you want it. You can request to have screening mammograms every 3 years on the NHS, but at our Enhanced Breast Screening centre, we recommend mammograms more often, at 18-month intervals.
If you have had any previous breast screening (private or NHS), it's important that you tell our administrative team, so that our consultant radiologists can compare any previous images at your same appointment.
At OneWelbeck we offer routine breast screening to all women aged 40 and above in accordance with the American Cancer Society. We do not offer routine breast screening for women under 40 years of age as the benefits are less clear at a younger age, and the limitations or potential risks are higher.
Booking your screening appointment at OneWelbeck is simple – visit our booking portal to arrange a private screening today. Alternatively, you can call us on 020 8015 2355, or email our team at bookings.womenshealth@onewelbeck.com.
Please note, we can only offer private mammograms to patients who are currently not showing any breast cancer symptoms. If you have found a lump or any other concerning symptoms in your breast, we advise you to contact your GP or your private health insurer as soon as possible.
"I would like to thank you and your team so much for the wonderful care given to me recently and the kindness shown when I attended for a mammogram. Although this was just a routine check-up, you paid such attention to ensuring my wellbeing. You and your assistant, Andrea, both went out of your way to explain the process and to make me comfortable, physically and mentally. You also went to the trouble of collecting my previous mammograms from my GP to compare and look for any changes. When I needed to return for a further scan and then a biopsy of a tiny calcium deposit, you were just as kind and considerate. Dr Malhotra, consultant radiologist, could not have been more gentle while carrying out the biopsy. I felt safe in all of your hands with no pain at all, so much so that while lying still for the biopsy, I could have fallen asleep! Your aftercare was equally amazing. I experienced no bruising or swelling, I am sure due to the care you took to prevent this, and Andrea called the next day to see how I was. Fortunately, the biopsy results were all clear; however, I am so pleased that I decided to have the initial mammogram, and to do so at your clinic. I know that if there had been any serious problem it would have been caught by your incredible attention to detail and that you would have supported me through it with every care and kindness."
Screening mammogram patient
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We have brought together a group of leading gynaecologists and breast specialists to form our Women’s Health team. With over 200 years of combined experience, these expert clinicians are the best in their field and are all focused on delivering the very best patient care.