Introduction
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK with 56,822 new cases a year and is most diagnosed in women over the age of 50: affecting 1 in 7 women and less than 1 in 100 men each year [1] [2].
There are multiple risk factors for breast cancer, some of which are unpreventable such as ageing, and family history whereas others such as alcohol use are considered preventable[3]. Preventable risk factors are considered with ongoing work through the relevant alliances in the borough and region.
As with other cancers, the earlier breast cancer is detected and diagnosed, the better the prognosis1. In England, 71.7% of breast cancers in 2021 were diagnosed early, at Stage 1 or 2, compared to 54.5% for North Tyneside [4].
The National Screening Committee concluded at the last review that the breast screening programme has significant benefit; 1,300 lives saved and should therefore continue to operate.[5]
The NHS England commission the national breast cancer screening service (NBCSS) is to be delivered by the Newcastle upon Tyne Breast Screening Service for Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, North Tyneside, North Cumbria and Derwentside. The Breast Screening Service has three mobile units which travel across the rest of the region. A mobile unit is situated
within North Tyneside approximately every 3 years, remaining in situ long enough to ensure 70% of the eligible population are screened.
The aim of the breast cancer screening programme is to reduce breast cancer morbidity and mortality by diagnosing breast cancer early. The breast cancer screening programme is available to women aged 50 up to their 71st Birthday, with those 71+ able to opt in to continue to be screened. Women should be invited to screen every 36 months [6].
The breast cancer screening programme aims to find breast cancers when they are still small enough to not create any signs or symptoms. There are several types of breast cancer which can be divided into invasive or non-invasive. As a cancer is detected by the screening programme at an early stage, it is not possible to determine if a cancer would have developed into an invasive cancer or not [7].
The Newcastle Breast Screening service is one of the largest most rural screening services within the UK. The breast screening service is a 36-month rolling program. Once a client has had their first mammogram they must be seen again in 36 months, this is a national requirement that every screening service must achieve. Any changes to a cohort will impact the next cohort of women to be invited and the service will not achieve the national requirement.
[1]Cancer Research UK (2022) Breast Cancer Statistics. [accessed 04/06/2025]
[2] Cancer Research UK (2025), Breast Cancer in men. (accessed 04/06/2025)
[3] Cancer Research UK (2025) Risk factors for breast cancer. (accessed 02/06/2025)
[4] NHS Digital, (2021), Cancers Diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 by sub ICB in England. (accessed 06/06/2025)
[5] UK National Screening Committee (2019) Breast Cancer. [accessed 05/06/2025]
[6] NHSE (2025) Breast Screening Pathway Requirements Specification. [accessed 02/06/2025]
[7] Cancer Research UK, Screening for Health Professionals. Cancer Overdiagnosis | Screening for health professionals (accessed at 06/06/2025)