Breast Screening

What does Frome Medical Practice offer? 

Currently, all women in the UK aged between 50 and 70 are routinely invited every three years for breast screening, sometimes called a mammogram.

The Breast Screening Service is operated by Avon Breast Screening, rather than Frome Medical Practice. They arrange for all women to be screened at the mobile breast screening unit. Screening is strictly by appointment only. 

It is important to be breast aware and to regularly check your breasts for any changes, regardless of your age. See below for more information on this.

If you have any concerns about changes in your breasts that are not normal for you please contact the Practice on 01373 301301 as soon as possible. 

Other support available

It’s important that all women are breast aware. Being breast aware means:

• Knowing what is normal for you
• Knowing what changes to look and feel for
• Looking and feeling for changes
• Reporting any changes to your GP without delay
• Attending routine breast screening, if you are over 50

Breast awareness is about becoming familiar with your own breasts and how they change. It is important to know how your body normally looks and feels. Being breast aware is about knowing the usual shape and feel of your breasts and being able to recognise any changes.

There is no such thing as a standard breast and what is normal for one woman may not be for another. Your breasts will also look and feel different over time depending on the time of the month and your age. If you find any changes from what is normal for you call us on 01373 301301. 

It is important to know that most changes are not cancer. But, reassurance and advice will always help, and the sooner a possible cancer is reported, the more simple treatment is likely to be.

Changes to look for:

• A change in size or shape
• A lump or thickening
• Puckering or skin dimpling
• Nipple becoming drawn or changing direction
• Bleeding or discharge from the nipple
• Rash on or around the nipple
• Sudden roughness of the skin
• Swelling under the armpit or around the collar bone
• Constant pain in one part of your breast or in your armpit

The CoppaFeel website provides information on the importance of getting to know your breasts and how you can check yourself, with the opportunity to sign up for monthly reminders to do this.

You can find more information on breast cancer in women here and in men here.

Further information on breast screening is available here. 

More information is also available on the Avon Breast Screening website.