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About breast screening - Your breast screening results

We aim to send out your results letter by post within 3 weeks of your appointment. Your doctor will also receive a copy of your results.

If your breast x-ray shows no further tests are needed, you will be invited to come for screening again in three years’ time.

Some people will be asked to have another breast x-ray before a result can be given. This is because the images were not clear. We will tell you if this is the reason.

You will be invited to come for screening up until the age of 70. If you are aged 70 or over, you can make an appointment to attend for screening when we next screen your area by contacting us.

If your breast x-ray shows a possible change in your breast, you will be offered an assessment appointment in one of the screening centres. You will be seen by a specialist and offered further tests.

If you are invited for further tests is it important that you attend. More information on assessment appointments is available in the leaflet Reasons Why You Need Another Test. 

About four in every 100 women are sked to come back for more tests after screening. This is because more information is needed before we can give a result.

If you are invited for further tests it is important that you attend.

What happens to my x-rays once they have been checked?

We keep your mammograms securely for at least 8 years, so that we can do the following:

  • Compare your latest mammograms with ones you have had before.
  • Review all screening records, including mammograms.
  • Train and increase the expertise of our specialist staff.
  • Measure the quality of the service we provide.

Staff who work in other parts of the health service may need to see your records to help with your medical care. If a review shows that you should have been cared for differently, we will contact you. If you want us to, we will give you more information about your case.

For us to contact you as part of this programme, we will need to handle some of your personal information.

If you need more information about this, you can:

Page last reviewed: 6th February 2026