Latest NHS England data shows breast cancer screening uptake remains below its 70% target for the fourth consecutive year.
Only 64.6% of invited women attended screenings in 2022/23. Meeting the 70% target could have detected 1,311 more breast cancers and treatment could be started sooner. Just 53.7% of women attended their first screening invite; which is concerning as women who don’t attend their first screening are much less likely to attend when next invited.
The incidence of breast cancer is lower in some ethnic groups such as South Asian, Black and Chinese women, compared to White women. However, Black, Asian and minority ethnic women are diagnosed with breast cancer at younger ages, at later stages, and have lower survival rates and poorer experiences of care.
Minoritised women are also less likely to attend breast screening than women from White ethnic backgrounds. However, uptake has been found to have increased, with targeted interventions. For example, more Bangladeshi women attended breast screening when screening initiatives were led by Bangladeshi GPs.
A more targeted approach by health services and policy makers, developing interventions to help engage women who do not attend for screening, is needed. This is why the Race Equality Foundation supports the Breast Cancer Now #NoTimeToWaste campaign, to improve awareness of and access to vital breast screening.
A national awareness campaign is needed to improve public understanding of the importance of screening and to address what can deter attendance. This campaign must also tackle information gaps and target messages to under-served groups to address inequalities in uptake. Increasing uptake is crucial to detecting more breast cancers early and saving lives
