When going for breast screening you will only 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 will be available for you to ask any questions. Your breast screening visit should take about half an hour.
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.
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 25–30%.
The earlier the 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 are experiencing breast-related symptoms, your pathway can be slightly different to a regular mammogram screening. Learn more about the imaging and diagnostics we offer to symptomatic patients.
What age can I have a 3D mammogram?
We recommend that all women start having regular screening appointments from the age of 40. You can self-refer (i.e. book directly without needing a GP referral) for a private screening mammogram with us from this age.
We also recommend being screened annually, as opposed to every three years, to ensure any abnormalities are identified at the earliest possible stage.
Johanna Kelsey, Manager and Lead Radiographer of OneWelbeck Women's Health explains more about our breast screening services and the importance of annual screening.
At OneWelbeck we offer routine breast screening to all women age 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.
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.
Screening women between the ages of 40 and 49 will reduce the chance of a woman dying from breast cancer by 25% and annual screening after the age of 50 can reduce the chance of dying from breast cancer by 25-30%. Breast screening now saves 1,300 lives every year in the UK.
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 doctors (consultant radiologists) reading mammograms are.
Some women will be diagnosed and treated for cancer that would never have otherwise have 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 judgement 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 work out 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. Look out for the following:
- A lump or thickening in the breast.
- A change in the nipple. The nipple might be pulled back into the breast or change shape. You might have a rash that makes the nipple look red and scaly, or have blood or another fluid coming from the nipple.
- A change in how the breast feels or looks. It may feel heavy, warm or uneven, or the skin may look dimpled. The size and the shape of the breast may change.
- Pain or discomfort in the breast or armpit.
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.
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 purpose-built with your needs in mind. Every 3d screening mammogram 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, she ensures everyone in her care feels as relaxed and looked after as possible.
We make sure to always have a radiologist in the centre each day, ensuring your mammogram results are not only assessed immediately but also provided to 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, 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 lesions that may be hard to detect with the naked eye.
Our technology also enables us to assess breast density by using a breast density assessment 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 be completely transparent about our competitive pricing to help you understand the costs involved.
If you have private health insurance, we are 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 do not become lost in the system and double-check whether you received the necessary follow-up appointments our radiologist recommended.
This means, in order to complement the national screening programme, you may still receive NHS mammogram appointments every three years while also attending yearly mammograms with us at OneWelbeck.
Booking your screening appointment at OneWelbeck is simple – visit our booking portal to book your 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 for patients who are currently not showing any breast cancer symptoms. If you have found a lump or any other concerning symptoms in your breast, it is advised to contact your GP or your private health insurer as soon as possible.
