It is a bizarre system where they get a list from the GP of women who are eligible, invite for screening, returning to that GP on a three year cycle. This has to somehow take into account people moving areas and GPs without them going more than 36 months without an invite.
It means that women are eligible from 50 but may not be actually invited until they are 53, depending at what stage in the cycle the GP surgery is. There is also some sort of trial that I am in (but was never told about
) where 50% of the women in an area are invited from 47.
This means that I have been screened at 48, 51(with follow up) and will be screened again shortly before I turn 54 (as the cycle was less than 36 months). However, a friend at a different surgery was diagnosed with breast cancer after noticing a suspicious change, 2 months before her 53rd birthday and has never been invited for screening.
I wouldn't panic, as it not essential to be screened, and most women do not get breast cancer. However, if you are a little bit suspicious about anything, go to the GP and ask for a referral to the breast clinic with no faffing around. They are really good at making sure something is not breast cancer. Actually, you should do this even if you have been screened and you have a lump, puckering etc.
