BREAST cancer checks dropped by half last year, NHS figures reveal as more than two million women are three years overdue.
Just 1.19million women were screened for the killer disease during the Covid crisis in 2020-21, down from 2.12m in 2019.
Disruption means thousands missed early signs of the condition, which is the most common cancer in the UK and kills 12,000 people every year.
It often has symptoms even in early stages, meaning it can be caught quickly and survival rates are good.
The NHS’s seven main signs women should never ignore are:
- A new breast lump or area with thicker tissue
- One or both breasts changing shape or size
- Nipple discharge
- A lump or swelling in the armpit
- Changes in how the skin looks on the breast, such as new dimples
- A rash or crusty patch of skin on the breast
- Changes to the shape of one or both nipples
Experts warn thousands of women have likely missed early signs of cancer because of Covid’s impact on screening.
Delyth Morgan, charity chief at Breast Cancer Now, said: “The human cost behind these figures is stark, with an estimated 8,870 women living with undetected breast cancer.
“A significant number of them would have been detected at routine screening.
“Tragically, up to 680 additional women could die from breast cancer in the next decade due to impacts of the pandemic on screening.”
NHS Digital statistics revealed the number of women over 45 getting screened fell by 44 per cent in the year to April 2021.
It means only two thirds have been checked in the past three years – around 4million of a total 6.2m who are eligible.
And the number of cancers found dropped by 39 per cent, meaning thousands were missed.
Around 56,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, according to Cancer Research UK, but survival rates are good if it’s caught early.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, said: “The pandemic had an impact on some services and we know that fewer people came forward for cancer checks.
“The NHS is now inviting more people than ever to be screened, so it remains vital that women come forward when they receive their invitation to do so.”
