Event promotes breast screening to women with learning disabilities
Over 90% of attendees at an event aimed at women with learning disabilities in Worcestershire are more likely to access routine breast screening after attending.
The annual ‘My Breasts and Me’ event, run by the Worcestershire Community Learning Disability Tea m aims to increase the number of women with learning disabilities attending potentially life-saving mammogram appointments.
It offers an opportunity to informally meet with mammographers and staff at the Worcestershire Breast Unit to find out more abouthow breast screening is carried out, and how to check breasts for changes or abnormalities.
The day, which is tailored to the individual needs of those in attendance, intends to alleviate anxieties or worries around the procedure and increase the number of women attending for mammograms.
Saffron Davies, Community Learning Disability Nurse for the South Worcestershire Community Learning Disability Team said, “We hope that each year continues to raise awareness of important health inequality issues that people with learning disabilities face and how we can work together and in partnership with people with learning disabilities and their support networks, to break down the barriers they face to accessing basic health screenings such as mammograms”
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, with around 56,000 cases diagnosed each year.
Females are invited for NHS breast screening every 3 years between the ages of 50 and 71. Screening use specialist X-rays to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel. People of any age who have concerns about changes or lumps in their breasts are encouraged to contact their GP, even if they have recently had a clear breast screening.