Guidance

Breast screening for women aged 71 or over

This information is for women aged 71 or over. These women no longer receive breast screening invitations, but can request breast screening every 3 years.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

Women aged 71 and over are not routinely invited for breast screening, but are able to request free breast screening every 3 years. This information explains:

  • how to request a breast screening appointment
  • what breast screening involves
  • breast awareness
  • symptoms of breast cancer

This information is available in A4 PDF format (in English) to print out and provide for people who cannot access digital information.

Contact the screening helpdesk with any queries about this publication, making sure you include its full title.

Published 13 March 2018
Last updated 4 August 2022 + show all updates
  1. Updating confidentiality section, replacing mention of Public Health England with NHS England.

  2. Addition of plain A4 PDF version for printing, to provide for people unable to access this information online.

  3. Information reinstated as breast screening services are now accepting self-referrals from women aged 71 and over following lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

  4. This leaflet is not currently in use. Breast screening for women aged 71 and over is suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

  5. Added translated PDF versions of the leaflet in 10 languages.

  6. Added HTML version of the leaflet.

  7. Updated leaflet to include information on availability of large print format.

  8. First published.