It's time to say "yes" to breast screening

Two of Birmingham’s leading charities are improving breast cancer services in the city, with the arrival of their jointly funded mobile mammogram unit.

Purchased by Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer (LFBC) and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) Charity, the new mobile mammogram unit boasts leading X-ray facilities that will be used by up to 62 women a day, helping to detect breast cancer earlier.

Veronica Kumeta, co-founder of LFBC, said: “This new mobile mammogram trailer enables screening to place across South Birmingham and ensures that women are attending their appointments.

“There are so many reasons that people might not attend, from geography and time restraints through to just plain old fear, but research shows just how important it is to get checked and find these things as early as possible. This screening unit helps make it as convenient as possible for people but also removes some of that fear.” 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with one in eight women expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime. Around 50,000 women are diagnosed each year and 12,000 die from the disease; however, the good news is that research and treatments are increasing survival rates every year.

The mobile van is at Broadmeadow Health Centre until September 2016 and eligible ladies from the following GP practices are being invited for screening:

• Broadmeadow Health Centre
• Kings Norton Surgery
• Hawkesley Medical Practice
• Maypole Health Centre
• Grafton Road Surgery
• Keynell Covert Surgery
• Kingsfield Medical Centre
• Druids Heath Health Centre
• South Maypole Surgery

For more information about breast screening, please visit the South Birmingham Breast Screening web page.