Breast screening is a test for breast cancers that are too small to see or feel.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). About 1,000 women and AFAB people die of breast cancer every year in Scotland.
Breast screening doesn't prevent cancer, but can detect cancer early and reduce the number of women and AFAB people who die from it.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), or have been in contact with someone who does, call the number on your invitation to rearrange your appointment.
Non-urgent advice: Speak to your GP if you experience:
- a lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast
- a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood)
Most breast lumps (90%) aren't cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by a medical professional.
Who'll be screened?
In Scotland, breast screening is routinely offered to those who:
- are female
- are between 50 and 70 years old
- have not had breast screening in the last 3 years
Breast screening is also offered to:
- non-binary people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB), and haven't had breast removal surgery
- trans women who are taking hormones
- trans men who haven't had breast removal surgery
Your screening invitation
You should be invited for breast screening by your local breast screening centre.
GP practices only take part in the breast screening programme every 3 years, so you may not get your first invitation until you're 53.
Contact your local screening centre if you:
- haven't had your first invitation by your 53rd birthday
- have moved house or GP practice and not had an invitation in the last 3 years
Text message reminder service
If you'd like to receive a text message reminder about your breast screening appointment, please make sure your local breast screening centre has a record of your current phone number.
What happens during your breast screening appointment?
Your results
You'll usually get the results of your breast X-ray (mammogram) by letter within 3 weeks. Your GP will also get a copy of your results.
You'll receive 1 of 3 results:
- negative result
- positive result
- inconclusive result
If you haven't received your results within 3 weeks, please contact your local screening centre.
Further information and other languages and formats
Information in other languages and formats.
For alternative formats, please contact phs.otherformats@phs.scot