The women of Sparkhill and Sparkbrook are being urged not to miss their breast cancer screening appointments.

Nationally more than 72 percent of women attended their breast screening appointments but in the Sparkhill/Sparkbrook area uptake averages just 50-60 percent and engaging women in these ethnically diverse communities has been a particular challenge.

South Birmingham Breast Screening Service chiefs are eager to address this issue and launched a fresh effort to raise awareness in these areas during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2015.

The local service is part of the National Breast Screening Programme and invites more than 15,000 women for screening every year.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK and 1,300 lives are saved each year through the screening programme.

All women between the ages of 50 and 70 living in south Birmingham are eligible for the free service – which aims to detect cancers at the earliest possible stage – and will be invited for screening every three years.

Some older and younger women are also currently being invited for screening as part of an ongoing clinical study.

“The aim of the breast screening programme is to find cancers at an early stage when they are too small to see or feel,” said service spokesperson Siobhan Lydon, a senior radiographer.

“By catching these cancers earlier we are potentially saving the patient from much more invasive surgery later on.’’

“But there are certain areas of Birmingham where we are finding it difficult to get women to attend for screening, particularly in certain pockets of Sparkhill and Sparkbrook.

“In such areas of high ethnic diversity there are often language barriers involved and educating and informing the community about our service is a challenge

“A lot of people are nervous about what a mammogram entails and what the results may be. We are trying to get the word out that we’re there to help by enlisting the assistance of faith leaders and visiting centres of worship as well as schools to raise awareness.

“It is essential that we get as many women screened as possible from these areas because it could save lives as, for example, black and Asian women have significantly poorer outcomes than other ethnic groups in terms of breast cancer survival.

“About five to ten percent of breast cancer is inherited, the other 90-95 percent is an uncontrolled growing of cells in the breast. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

“The more cancers that we can detect early, often before there are any symptoms, the more lives we can save.”

The screening process involves an X-ray, or mammogram, being taken of each breast. Results are sent to the patient and her GP and further assessment, if needed, is undertaken in the Breast Assessment Unit at Birmingham Women's Hospital, which is a purpose-built unit with a friendly environment.

“The service is sensitively based around maintaining the highest levels of privacy and dignity for all women,” added Siobhan

The screening is carried out at the Women’s Hospital or on a mobile screening unit which travels to six sites over a three-year period. To improve accessibility and convenience appointments are also offered on alternate Saturdays in the breast unit with extended days and early starts on the mobile unit.

The mobile unit is based at Sparkbrook Health and Community Centre on Grantham Road until May 2016.

To book an appointment or to talk to the friendly staff call the South Birmingham Breast Screening Service or visit the website.

Tel: 0121 623 6890