Breast cancer screenings to start sooner; Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK, affecting one in nine women at some point in their life. Screening is an essential part of diagnoses and it is set to be offered to a younger age group. KATIE DAVIES finds out more.

Byline: KATIE DAVIES

UP to 45,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK and more than a quarter of them will sadly die.

But survival rates are improving all the time thanks to advances in medical treatment.

Now mammography screening is being offered to a wider age group of women to help early detection and reduce the rates of breast cancer.

The Department of Health's Cancer Reform Strategy has announced the NHS Breast Screening Programme will be extended to cover women aged 47 to 73, meaning women will get two extra screenings in their lifetime and one before their 50th birthday.

The extra screening units required for the extended programme are not yet in place so women will have to wait until 2012 for the changes to be introduced.

In the meantime a pilot study is being undertaken in six areas across England. This will provide information to help with the planning stages of the age extensions that will be rolled out across the country.

Almost half of women aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 79 have been selected at random to be screened. But women aged 50 to 70 will be invited for screening as usual. The pilot study will run separately from the routine NHS Screening Programme.

NHS North of Tyne, working on behalf of Newcastle Primary Care Trust (PCT), North Tyneside PCT and the Northumberland Care Trust, commissions breast screening services for women aged 50 and over in hospitals, clinics and mobile units across the region.

Dr Meng Khaw, director of public health for North Tyneside PCT, speaking on behalf of NHS North of Tyne said: "All women aged over 50 are eligible for screening every three years and women aged between 50 and 70 are regularly invited for breast screening.

"The breast screening service is commissioned by NHS North of Tyne for the eligible population in North of Tyne - covering Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.

"Breast screening can help to find small changes in the breast before there are any other signs or symptoms. If changes are found at an early stage, there is a good chance of a successful recovery for patients.

"Whatever age you are, if you are ever worried about any breast problem, please contact your doctor who may refer you for a specialist opinion if necessary." Screening detects breast cancer at a very early stage. The earlier the cancer is detected, the better the chances of making a full recovery. It involves an Xray of each breast - a mammogram - taken while carefully compressing the breast.

Mammograms can detect small changes in breast tissue which may indicate cancers that are too small to be felt by women or their doctors.

The extension of the NHS Screening Programme has been made possible by the introduction of digital mammography in 2005. It uses computer imaging to capture the images of breast tissue on X-ray film.

This has proved a more effective way of screening younger women whose breast material may be more dense.

The programme screens about 19m UK women each year and has detected about 117,000 cancers.

Research shows the screening programme has lowered mortality rates from breast cancer in the 55 to 69 age group.

Of every 500 women screened, one life is saved, according to information published by the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes.

Helen Anderson, of Gosforth, Newcastle, said she is keen for age limits to be reduced when it comes to breast cancer screening.

The senior administrator at Northumbria University found a lump in her breast when having a shower on holiday in Thailand when she was just 33.

Helen's husband Keith encouraged her to get it checked out. His late wife had died of breast and liver cancer just nine weeks after her diagnosis.

Helen, 36, said: "Because I was only 33 at the time I was still considered young to have cancer, especially as it didn't run in my family.

"The scans were a huge part of my diagnosis, together with a needle biopsy and because I had raised the alarm quickly, I had a better My treatment nearly two kept positive "chance.

"The cancer had spread into my lymph nodes in my left armpit and I had to have further surgery to clear the nodes and increase the safety margin. my sense which, with and support, through "I also had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and then the cancer drug Herceptin for a year. "My treatment lasted nearly two years, but I kept positive and kept my sense of humour which, with Keith's love and support, got me through it.

"I was very fortunate. If I had not raised the alarm when I did it would have been a very different story." Earlier this year Helen married Keith at Linden Hall Hotel, Longhorsley, Northumberland, which was an emotional day.

She said: "I think it's great that the screening age has been reduced. It is a step in the right direction.

lasted years, but I and kept of humour Keith's love got me I was very fortunate "It would be great, however, if the age could be dropped further. "There appears to be an increase in women in their 30s and 40s developing breast cancer."

Helen said breast screening was essential and women needed to be aware of the illness, especially women who thought it would never happen to them.

"It happened to me and I didn't expect it," Helen explained. "But by reacting quickly and with the encouragement of my wonderful husband, it probably saved my life.

"A mammogram is not the most comfortable experience in the world and neither is a needle biopsy but it's better than the alternative.

"Five minutes of discomfort and getting the all-clear, or early detection resulting in less treatment and better prognosis is much better than losing your breast, or your life, for that matter. "I'd choose a mammogram before it was too late."

About five to 10% of breast cancer cases are genetic. It's especially important for women with a family history of the disease to be tested.

Mum-of-three Bridget Major, of Hexham, Northumberland, a university business school principal lecturer, speaks about the importance of screening.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer - an illness many of the women in her family had suffered before her.

For eight years Bridget had an annual mammogram, which she believes saved her life.

The 48-year-old said: "If I had not been screened, I don't think I would have found the lump because it was in an awkward place.

"People who have a genetic history of breast cancer need to ensure they are screened regularly."

CAPTION(S):

SCREENED OUT - Bridget, centre right, and friends at cancer charity run. A lump was spotted at her annual screening EARLY DETECTION - Keith made sure wife Helen saw a doctor as soon as possible RECOVERING - Bridget last year, in headscarf, with fellow patient Helen Simms of Gosforth.