BREAST SCREENING SERVICE

We aim to provide an efficient and effective high quality breast screening service to all eligible women within a caring environment.

The Breast Screening Service is situated in the Central Community Health Centre which is on Westmoreland Road, Douglas. This refurbished building was part of the old Noble's Hospital and is next to Kensington Health Centre. Car parking is provided across the road at the site of the staff residence LINK TO MAP

The Isle of Man Breast Screening Service is supported by staff at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UCHCW), one of the largest screening centres in the UK. All appointments are arranged there, so please ring +44 (0) 1624 685339 if you wish to change your appointment. (This local number is a direct line to the appointments office at Coventry)

All screening mammograms are reported by the team of expert image readers at Coventry. Following the reporting you should receive the result within 2 weeks being screened. We will also notify your GP of your results.

Why should I have Breast Screening?

• Breast Screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage often before there are any symptoms. To do this an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment.
• For every 500 women screened 1 life will be saved

Breast screening is a well woman service. If you have symptoms do not wait to be invited for breast screening. You need to see your GP.

Be breast aware

1. Know what is normal for you
2. Know what changes to look and feel for
3. Look and feel
4. Report any changes to your GP without delay
5. Attend for routine breast screening, if you are over 50

Breast awareness is about becoming familiar with your own breasts and how they change. It is important to know how your body normally looks and feels.

Being breast aware is about knowing the usual shape and feel of your breasts and being able to recognise any changes.

There is no such thing as a standard breast and what is normal for one woman may not be for another. Your breasts will also look and feel different over time depending on the time of the month and your age. If you find any changes from what is normal for you go to your GP without delay.

You are not wasting anyone's time.

It is important to know that most changes are not cancer. But, reassurance and advice will always help, and the sooner a possible cancer is reported, the more simple treatment is likely to be. Changes to look for:

• A change in size or shape
• A lump or thickening
• Puckering or skin dimpling
• Nipple becoming drawn or changing direction
• Bleeding or discharge from the nipple
• Rash on or around the nipple
• Sudden roughness of the skin
• Swelling under the armpit or around the collar bone
• Constant pain in one part of your breast or in your armpit

More information can be found on the Macmillan website or visit NHS Cancer Screening website.

How do I get an appointment?

• All women aged from 50 -70 who are registered with a GP are invited for screening every 2 years (Please note that this is different from elsewhere in UK where screening is 3 yearly

• Women aged 70+ may self refer for breast screening every 2 years. Please call the appointments office at Coventry (02476 6853390) to arrange an appointment
• The programme automatically invites women to be screened by GP practice. This means that you may be 52 before you receive your first invitation. Please follow the link to see when your GP practice is due for screening

ESTIMATED SCHEDULE FOR 2ND/3RD SCREENING ROUND

What happens at screening?

• At your screening appointment a female mammographer will explain breast screening to you and ask you a few questions. She will then take the x-ray by compressing your breasts, one at a time between two special x-ray plates. The compression only lasts a few seconds and there is no evidence this harms the breast. Compression is needed to keep the breast still, in order to get the clearest picture with the lowest amount of radiation. Two x-rays of each breast will be taken.
• Some women find mammography uncomfortable and some find it painful as the breasts have to be held firmly in position and pressed to take a good x-ray. If you do experience pain it usually only lasts as long as the mammogram although it may continue for some time in a small number of women.
• Please do not use talcum powder or spray-on deodorant on the day you go for breast screening as this may affect the quality of your mammogram.

What happens next?

For most women one visit is sufficient and we will write to you within 2 weeks to notify you of your results.

We will also notify your GP of the outcome.

NB. Even though you have been screened it is important to remember that not all abnormalities show on mammograms. Therefore you should continue to be breast aware and report any changes in your breasts to your GP.

Following their screening some women asked to attend for further investigations. These take place at the Radiology Department at Noble's Hospital. At this second visit, more mammograms, ultrasound scan, clinical examination and or biopsy may be undertaken.