Breast Screening

What we do

Women aged 50 to 70 are invited for routine screening mammography (breast x-ray examination) once every three years. Some women aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 73 may be invited as part of a national trial. If you are over 70 you may self-refer. The aim of screening is to find breast cancers when they are small and can be treated most effectively.

Approximately 1 in 20 (5%) women will be asked to attend a specialist clinic at King's following screening, for diagnosis.

The screening is carried out either on one of our mobile units or at static sites in South East London. These are at:

• Bromley Phoenix Centre, BR2 9JG
• Sydenham Savacentre, SE26 4 PU
• St Paul's Cray Clinic, BR5 2RJ
• 104 Camberwell Building, SE5 8RX
• Memorial Hospital, SE18 3RZ
• Thamesmead Sports Club, SE28 8NJ

Women aged 70 to 79: missed screening invitations
Some women aged between 70 and 79 are being offered the opportunity for a breast screen. This is because some women did not receive an invitation for a final screen, due to problems with the national breast screening invitation system. Most women can be reassured that they will have received their final invitation.

If you have any questions or you would like to know more, www.nhs.uk has further information and advice.

Preparing for your appointment

Before having your mammogram, please tell us if you have:

• any disability
• breast implants.

Location

Ground floor, Cheyne Wing, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS

Contact Details

• Appointments and queries: +44 (0)20 3758 2024

Conditions we treat

There are two distinct breast imaging services at King's:

• The Breast Screening Service (South East London Breast Screening Service) - a nationally-led breast screening service for well women. This route is described below

• The Breast Care Clinic - a breast imaging service for symptomatic women referred directly from their GP. For more information, please contact the Breast Care Clinic on 020 3299 3600.

What is required before referring a patient

If the patient has any disability or has breast implants (augmentation), please inform us by phoning 020 3299 1964.

Booking a patient at King's

Routine Referrals

Not applicable, except for women aged over 71 years old who can self-refer (if eligible), by phoning 020 3758 2024.

Emergency Referrals

Not applicable - this is a screening service for well women.

Other Queries

To change appointments or for queries, please contact Breast Screening Administration, tel: 020 3299 1964.

For advice from the Breast Care Nurse, tel: 020 3299 3615.

For advice from the Head of Breast Radiography, tel: 020 3299 3384.

Key Clinical Staff