By Gillian Ellison

Published at 15:51, Wednesday, 28 October 2009

WOMEN are being urged to attend their breast screening appointment as every year around 9,000 across Cumbria fail to turn up.

Health professionals say those 21 per cent could be putting their health at risk.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and NHS Cumbria’s health officials are asking women to make sure they attend breast screening appointments after receiving an invitation letter.

In 2007/08, 42,700 Cumbrian women aged between 50 to 70 years old were invited for breast screening and 78.9 per cent attended.

In 2007, 112 women died of breast cancer in Cumbria compared to 10,200 nationally.

Breast cancer is most common in women aged over 50, but it can happen at any age. If detected early enough the chance of survival increases. Now over 80 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer are still alive five years later, compared to around 52 per cent in the 1970s.

Although the cause of breast cancer is unknown, factors such as age and a family history of the disease can increase risk.

Dr Nigel Calvert, NHS Cumbria's associate director of public health, said: “Breast cancer continues to be one of the biggest cancer killers in women despite the increase in survival rates. Even if you do survive there are often major psychological issues which some women may have to overcome. This is why it is so vital that we catch it as early as possible.

“I ask that any woman in Cumbria, who gets a letter asking them to attend a screening appointment, does so. You'll only be invited every three years and those few minutes could save your life.”

Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk