Once every three years your GP practice will be contacted and all women between the ages of 50 and 70 will be routinely invited. Not every woman will receive an appointment as soon as she is 50. You will receive your first appointment by your 53rd birthday.

Currently the breast screening programme does not screen all women under the age of 50. This is because 80% of all breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50. Routine screening in women below the age of 50 has not yet shown to be of benefit. All women should continue to be breast aware.

If you have a family history of breast cancer please see your GP who may refer you to a family history clinic at your local hospital. The family history clinic will assess your need for extra mammographic screening.

You should continue to be breast aware, look and feel, learning what is normal for you and reporting any changes or concerns to your GP without delay. Do not wait until your next mammogram. Breast screening will pick up most but not all breast cancer.

From time to time changes to the screening plan result in women receiving an appointment slightly earlier than the standard 3 years, but if you believe it's been more than 3 years since your last screening mammogram please phone the screening office on 020 3758 2024.