Leading research and support charity, Breast Cancer Now has today [Wednesday 6 August] launched a petition calling on the Welsh Government to save more lives from breast cancer by taking action to get more women screened for breast cancer.
The petition follows latest figures published by Public Health Wales showing that breast screening uptake dropped back below the minimum 70% standard in 2022/23 (at 69.5%) after this standard had been met for the first time in five years the previous year.[1] Uptake also remains well below the 80% target.[2]
Breast screening is a key tool for detecting breast cancer early, and critically, the sooner it is diagnosed, the more likely treatment is to be successful.
The charity warns low uptake is cause for deep concern when breast screening saves women’s lives from breast cancer, and is urging members of the public to sign its ‘No Time to Waste – Wales’ petition calling on the Welsh Government to ensure the 70% minimum standard is met consistently, drive progress towards delivering on the 80% target, and to reduce inequalities in uptake across different communities.
Had the 80% achievable breast screening uptake target been met in 2022/23, Breast Cancer Now estimates that over 15,000 (15,871) more women would have undergone routine screening, and an additional 154 breast cancers would have been found in Wales.[3]
Crucially, this would have led to more women being given the best chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage when survival rates are highest.
The charity sets out that the Welsh Government must support and resource Breast Test Wales and Public Health Wales to deliver a breast screening awareness campaign; provide convenient, accessible screening appointments, and improve collection and reporting of uptake data. They are also calling for these commitments to be part of a new, ambitious and fully resourced screening equity strategy to ensure women from all communities across Wales have equitable access to breast screening.[4]
Claire Rowney, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“It’s hugely disappointing that breast screening uptake in Wales dropped back below the minimum 70% standard in 2022/23 (69.5%), after targets had been met for the first time in five years, in 2021/22.
“Meanwhile, Wales lacks crucial insights into how its breast screening programme is currently performing, with 2023/24 data yet to be published.
“Worst of all is the human impact of falling short of these targets - we estimate an additional 154 breast cancers would have been found had the 80% achievable uptake target been met, based on 2022/23 figures, and this would have given more women the best chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage when survival rates are highest.
“That only 64.3% of women in Wales invited for their first breast screening appointment attended is also worrying when we know this means they’re less likely to go in future.
“Though efforts are being made to improve uptake by Breast Test Wales, it’s clear that much more strategic and ambitious change is needed to truly deliver convenient, flexible and equitable access to breast screening.
“Our new ‘No Time To Waste – Wales’ petition launches today calling on the Welsh Government to improve breast screening uptake in Wales by ensuring the 70% minimum standard is met consistently, and to drive progress towards delivering the 80% target. To succeed, this must be supported by a new ambitious and fully resourced screening equity strategy. Sign our petition now and join us in telling the Welsh Government there’s #NoTimeToWaste."
The charity aims to secure 10,000 signatures so that the petition’s calls can be considered for a debate in the Senedd in Autumn.
Breast Cancer Now’s #NoTimeToWaste England activity successfully campaigned for England’s first-ever national breast screening awareness campaign, funded by NHS England (NHSE).
Nicola Willis-Sheppard, 57, from Newport, Gwent was diagnosed with early breast cancer in 2023 after her first routine mammogram. She has two sons, 15 and 24 years old. She says:
“I’ve always prioritised health checks so when I received my invitation for a routine mammogram I made my appointment. I was fit, healthy, working full time as a Medical Administrator for a Physiotherapy Company. I wasn’t worried at all ahead of my appointment and just thought everything would come back fine. Then I was recalled and after further tests was told I had DCIS, an early form of breast cancer. The word cancer just hits you. I was shocked, very emotional, numb and very frightened. Nothing prepares you for news like that.
“Cancer changes your whole life in seconds, and it can be a very lonely time. It was all I could think about. The fear of it is with you every second. It was the first thing on my mind in the morning and last thing at night.
“I had to have several operations to remove the cancer due it growing and unclear margins, so am really grateful it was caught as early as it was. The wonderful moment I was told the breast cancer was gone will stay with me forever.
“Breast cancer has taught me to live for the day and I’m doing well and living life to the full. I really do think that my routine mammogram saved my life as I had no symptoms. I would shout from the rooftops about the importance of people having mammograms. I know life is busy, and they’re easy to put off, but I’d encourage anyone invited to book their appointment. With breast cancer the most common cancer in the UK, raising more awareness about mammograms is vital.”
To sign Breast Cancer Now’s petition urging the government to invest in guaranteeing women’s access to breast screening – now and for the future, visit: https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246708.
ENDS
Notes to editor
[1] Annual statistical reports - Public Health Wales
[2] ‘The minimum standard is for 70% of women who are invited attend for screening and the target is 80%’. Screening Division Annual Reports - Public Health Wales, January 2019
[3] Breast Cancer Now analysis of Breast Test Wales Annual Statistical Report 2022-23. Calculated by applying the total rate of cancers detected per 1000 women screened (this published figure includes all ages and referral types so may differ from the routine screening rate), to the number of women screened (calculated by applying the uptake to the number of women invited). The uptake is then adjusted to the achievable level of 80%.
[4] Public Health Wales current Screening Equity Strategy 2022-2025 ends this year https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/screening/