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Government of Jerseygov.je

Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

About breast screening and how to register

 

Breast screening clinics

If your routine screening is now due, overdue or you have recently registered, and you are waiting for an appointment you will be on a waiting list. Appointments are being booked in priority order and you will be notified in writing as soon as an appointment is available.

If you have any urgent concerns or notice any worrying changes in your breasts that require medical attention, don’t wait until your screening appointment to raise those concerns, it is important to speak to your GP straightaway. 

Find out more about being breast aware go to our symptoms of breast cancer and reducing your risk page.

If you have any queries about breast screening contact us on +44 (0) 1534 443790 or email the breast screening service.

Who breast screening is offered to

If you're aged between 50 and 69, you can register for breast screening online by completing the breast screening online registration form.

You have to register for breast screening as you won't automatically be invited for screening​ when you reach 50.

Once you've registered, you’ll then be invited for screening every two years.​​

​Women aged 50 to 69

Routinely​​​ offered every two years.

​Women aged 70 to 75

We don't routinely call women over 70 but you can continue to have screening every two years until you reach 75.

Contact the breast screening service on + 44 (0) 1534 443790 or by email ​to make​ an appointment.​

​Women aged over 75

​If you're over 75, you should talk to your GP about continuing to be screened and they'll refer you if appropriate. 

What happens during breast screening​

Breast screening uses x-ra​ys to look for breast cancers when they're too small to be seen or felt. ​The earlier breast cancer is found, the more successful the treatment. 

Breast screening is carried out by female staff only. It takes place at the General Hospital at the Le Quesne Unit.​

At your appointment, you'll: 

  • meet the female radiographer who'll carry out your screening test. She'll check your details, ask you a few questions and explain what will happen
  • be shown to a changing room, asked to undress from the waist up and asked to put on a hospital gown
  • be taken to the mammography examination room where you'll be asked to take off your gown
  • be guided into the correct position at the mammogram machine. One breast at a time will be placed between two special plates and pressed firmly between the plates for a few seconds. Two pictures are taken of each breast​​
  • ​​be shown back to the changing room where you can get dressed and go home

You might find the test uncomfortable but any discomfort usually passes quickly. 

​You can expect to be at the hospital for about half an hour. The actual test only takes a few minutes to complete. ​​​

​The results of your breast screening​

​You should receive your results by post within two weeks of your appointment. 

Normal re​​sult

​Most women get a normal screening result meaning their mammogram shows no sign of cancer.​ ​

Abnormal r​​esult

Around four in every 100 women have an abnormal result and are called back for more tests. This happens more often for women having their first mammogram because we don't have other mammograms to compare with. 

Further tests might include more mammograms, an ultrasound scan or a biopsy. ​

If you're told you have breast cancer, you'll be cared for by a specialist breast cancer team. ​Most, but not all, cancers found at breast screening can be successfully treated.

Your breast cancer screening results on NHS Choices website​

Risks and side effects of screening

​Mammograms have been routinely used worldwide.

Having a mammogram means you'r​e exposed to a small amount of radiation. 

N​o screening test is perfect. A​ normal result ​doesn't mean that you definitely don't have, or will never develop breast cancer. 

Sometimes you'll be recalled for more tests, but cancer isn't there.

Screening can find cancers that are then treated but may never have caused harm.

​Whether or not you go for breast screening, you should speak to your GP straightaway if you're worried about a breast problem.​

Symptoms of breast cancer and reducing your risk

Performance of the Jersey breast screening programme​

We run strict quality control checks and submit our results to the Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey. Our programme is also overseen by the chairman of the NHS Breast Screening Programme Quality Assurance Committee. We have consistently achieved the cancer detection targets set by this committee.

The Jersey Breast Screening Programme is also measured against the standards for the NHS Breast Screening Programme ea​ch year. 

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