Breast screening: one in three women did not attend despite 20,000 cancers detected

About one in three eligible women did not attend breast screening in 2024/25, and NHS England reports 19,291 breast cancers were detected through the programme that year.

NHS England reported that its breast screening programme detected 19,291 cancers in 2024/25 while attendance rose compared with the previous year. Despite the increase in people screened, roughly three in ten eligible women did not take up the offer of screening. Separately, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has called for an immediate ban on synthetic fillers being injected into breasts, saying such products can pose risks and complicate detection on scans. Women aged 50 to 71 are invited for mammography every three years as part of the programme. Key facts: - NHS England said 1.94 million women attended screening within six months of receiving an invitation in 2024/25. - The programme detected 19,291 cases of breast cancer in 2024/25, about nine per 1,000 women screened. - Around three in ten eligible women did not take up the screening offer; overall coverage was reported at 71.8%. - The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons urged an immediate ban on synthetic breast fillers used in breasts, citing risks including infection and changes that may affect scans. Summary: The screening programme continues to identify cancers at an early stage while a sizeable portion of eligible women do not attend. NHS England says it is working to improve uptake by using reminder texts and mobile screening units to reach more communities. Undetermined at this time.