Women across the Western Isles are encouraged to attend their breast screening appointment when invited

If you’re a woman aged 50 or over, regularly checking your breasts and attending your routine breast screening appointments can help detect breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful.

Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers affecting women in Scotland, but when it is found early it is often highly treatable. Everyone who receives an invitation for breast screening is encouraged to attend their appointment. Screening appointments are available at locations across the Western Isles, making it as easy as possible for women to access the service. The appointment takes about 10 minutes, and the staff are welcoming, supportive and happy to answer any questions.

Breast screening involves taking low-dose X-ray images of your breasts, known as mammograms, to look for signs of cancer before any symptoms develop. If you’re attending for the first time, or would like to know what to expect, you can watch a short video in which actress Elaine C. Smith attends her breast screening appointment. The video is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOplwRPhq1o.

Remember:

• There are 5,100 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year in Scotland.
• Breast screening can take as little as 10 minutes and could save your life.
• Breast screening detects tiny cancers, when they are often less advanced and easier to treat.

The breast screening unit will be in locations across the Western Isles from August 2026 so look out for your appointment.

The dates the unit is starting in each screening location are:

• Barra: 17^th August 2026
• Uist: 17^th August 2026
• Harris: *7^th September 2026
• Lewis: *21^st September 2026

*Expected start dates

1. In Scotland, women aged 50 to 70 who are registered with a GP are routinely invited for breast screening. Women of any age who notice any changes to their breasts or have concerns should contact their GP practice without waiting for a screening invitation.
2. Eligible women are routinely invited for breast screening every three years.
3. Breast screening aims to detect breast cancer at an early stage. It uses low-dose X-rays, called mammograms, which can detect cancers before they are large enough to be seen or felt.
4. Early detection of breast cancer improves the chances of successful treatment and can save lives.