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Breast screening

What is breast screening?

Breast screening looks for breast cancer before symptoms show. Finding breast cancer early gives you the best chance of successful treatment and survival.

Breast screening involves taking x-rays of the breast, which are called mammograms. At least two x-rays of each breast are taken.

Taking part in breast screening when you are invited is something that you can do to look after your health.

Screening is important because it can find:

  • cancers when they are too small to see or feel
  • and treat cancer early, giving you the best chance of survival

About breast screening

Taking part in screening is your choice. It is important that you understand the benefits and risks of breast screening to help you decide if taking part is right for you. Please navigate the pages below to find out more about the breast screening process.

  1. Reasons to attend breast screening
  2. Your breast screening invitation
  3. Your breast screening appointment
  4. Your breast screening results
  5. Your breast screening assessment appointment
  6. Signs and symptoms of breast cancer
  7. Mammography and radiation risk

About breast cancer

Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow and build up to form a lump. This is also known as a tumour.  As the cancer grows, cells can spread to other parts of the body.  This can be life-threatening.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, affecting one in seven women at some time in their lives. 

The risk of getting breast cancer gets higher as you get older. About 4 out of 5 breast cancers are found in women over 50 years old. 

Through finding cancer early and better treatments, people affected by cancer are living longer.

Find more information about breast cancer on NHS UK.

Who is screened?

Women aged from 50 up to their 70th birthday will receive a breast screening invitation in the post. We aim to invite women every three years.  

You may not receive your first invitation when you are aged 50.  We invite women based on when their doctor’s surgery is being screened. You will be invited for screening before your 53rd birthday.

Women aged 70 and over will not be invited for screening, but can contact Breast Test Wales and ask for an appointment.

People who are transgender or non-binary may be invited for breast screening. For more information read our information for people who are transgender and non-binary.

We do not screen women with breast symptoms. If you have noticed a change in your breast do not wait for your breast screening appointment. It is important that you speak to your doctor.

We do not screen women aged under 50 as the breast screening programme has only been shown to be of benefit for women over 50. If you have symptoms, or are worried about your family history, you should speak to your doctor.

Table of contents:

Further information

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Resources

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Reports

Breast screening programme reports

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Data

Breast screening uptake/coverage data

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