Reduce the Breast Screening Age to 40 – Sign the Petition!

[philaldo]

Hi everyone,

Did you know that breast cancer doesn’t wait until you’re 50? Yet, the current NHS screening program only invites women for mammograms from the age of 50. This delay means younger women—and even men—are often diagnosed later, leading to more aggressive treatments and worse outcomes.

We’re calling for the government to lower the breast screening age to 40 to save lives. Early detection:

✅ Improves survival rates.
✅ Reduces the need for invasive treatments.
✅ Empowers us all to take control of our health.

This change, combined with better awareness campaigns to normalise self-checking and self-referral, could be a game-changer for breast cancer survival in the UK.

Please join us by signing this petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700062

Every signature counts in making this life-saving change happen. 💖

Let’s make a difference together!

#BreastScreeningMatters #CheckYourBreasts #EarlyDetectionSavesLives #40not50

Depends on the size of your breasts. In breast cancer referral clinics it is a specialist radiologist ( doctor) that carries out the ultrasound so that they can fully investigate the lesion with the patient there. Reporting on an ultrasound carried out by a sonographer may not be as effective.
They also survey the lymph nodes. Again depending on the size of the patient, this can takes more time if the patient is a larger lady. Since obesity significantly increases the risk of bc it is important to be thorough. Some types of high grade cancer spread quickly to lymph nodes and often the first symptom is enlarged lymph nodes.

I'm currently considering a mastectomy on my non-affected side as the stress caused by worrying about developing it again is so significant. Add to that the lifetime risk of getting it and I'm starting to think that it might be sensible.

I agree to an extent. However if it had been made clear to me that I could actually be 53 (not 50) before I received a routine screening then I might well have thought to go for a private scan. Had I also known that some NHS patients are actually screened from 47 (think there is some sort of widespread trial going on) that also might have triggered me into doing something. Instead I waited to be summoned by the NHS which was too late for me and lots of others.

@Foxgloverr where we are they refused a double MX as they won't remove healthy tissue. That might vary between local health boards though

My consultant has said she would do it on the NHS. I get cysts regularly so have to keep going in and getting them looked at which causes loads of stress. Particularly as my BC was difficult to diagnose the first time and didn't show on mammogram or ultrasound.

@Foxgloverr @ChocoChocoLatte

I wanted a double mastectomy when diagnosed with cancer. I was told if I fought for it I could have a single. Since then I have found other people have pushed on this and got a double mastectomy.

@tothelefttotheleft I'm confused, did you have a single or double? I was told that it was safer to have a single first and recover from the cancer and then consider a double in the future. I am a bit reluctant to have more silicone in my body though as I had a reconstruction.

I will sign. I was diagnosed in July last year, I am 36.

The USA is now recommending screening every other year for over 40's because of the increase in younger women with breast cancer. That's convinced me to sign the petition.

I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at 46. Earlier screening, to catch the cancer before it spread to the lymph nodes, would have made the treatment needed far less brutal.

I was convinced I was not at risk because I had no family history, breastfed 2 children for a year each and was fit and healthy. Apparently breastfeeding only slightly reduces the risk of a few types of breast cancer.

I’m 52 this year and not been called for a scan yet, if they put the age down so increased numbers are screened isn’t that also going to increase the waiting lists even more so you’d end up being much older than 40 anyway