From 28th June 2010, Islington women will be able to benefit from a new digital mammography unit that has been developed at the Whittington Hospital for breast screening. The investment in this new digital facility will improve early detection of breast cancer in a permanent home.

Women between the ages of 50 and 70, who are registered with their GP, are invited for breast screening every three years. Breast screening involves taking an image or mammogram of the breast to detect any early signs of breast cancer. Mammography can pick up cancers that are too small for a woman to see or feel in the breast. This early detection means treatment of the cancer will be more effective.

In 2008/09, 65% of Islington women took up the opportunity to be screened. However, up to 4000 women in Islington have still not come for breast screening despite being invited. With one in nine women diagnosed with breast cancer, participation in breast screening is an important way to catch any cancer early and treat it effectively.

The benefits of this new unit include clearer images of the breasts for radiographers to check, better performing equipment, a fully accessible unit and a designated waiting area. NHS Islington hope that this new home for breast screening will give all Islington women, even those that have not yet attended, a comfortable experience at their next breast screening appointment and look forward to welcoming Islington women in the future. Islington women will start to be invited from the end of July 2010.

On the 28th June 2010 Rachel Tyndall the Chief Executive for the North Central London NHS Sector officially opened the new unit at the Whittington. Michelle Collins, BBC Drama star was also at the event as a special guest speaker to discuss the importance of breast screening and the benefits of this new unit.

Rachel Tyndall noted: “Breast screening is an important way for breast cancer to be detected early and for women to receive the most effective treatment. This new unit, commissioned by NHS Islington and developed with the Whittington and Central and East London Breast Screening Service, our local provider, will provide the women of Islington with a brand new screening unit in a easily accessible site and we are so pleased to be able to, in conjunction with the Whittington and Central and East London Breast Screening Service, to officially open it.

Dr Ros Crooks Consultant Radiologist and Lead Breast Radiologist commented; “We are delighted that we have been able to develop, with the help of NHS Islington, a static breast screening unit in The Whittington Hospital. The state of the art equipment will provide local, accessible facilities to our local screening population. We hope that the new facilities will encourage people to attend for regular screening allowing us to detect breast cancer early and enable the most effective treatment. We are proud to accommodate the unit alongside our symptomatic service.”

For more information on breast cancer please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cancer-of-the-breast-female