Essex Woman Urges Over-70 Mammogram Self-Referral After Cancer Found at 79
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 27
Essex Woman Urges Over-70 Mammogram Self-Referral After Cancer Found at 79
2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 27
Summary
Carol Turansky, 79, said a self-requested mammogram found breast cancer with no lumps or pain, prompting her to urge other women over 70 to book routine scans.
More than 70,000 people have signed her petition calling for an NHS campaign to tell older women they can self-refer every three years, even though routine invitations stop at 70.
NHS England and cancer specialists said screening policy balances benefits against age-related risks, including overdiagnosis and treatment burdens, though women over 70 can still contact local screening units or their GP.
One in three breast cancers occur in women aged 71 or over, and a UK trial backed by Cancer Research UK and AgeX is testing screening for ages 71 to 73, with results due in 2027.