
Mammography
Following the Trustee Announcement on the 14th April 2022, Lady McAdden no longer offer mammograms.
We strongly advise you attend your NHS mammogram appointment. If you have ANY concerns, contact your GP or call us and speak to one of our nurses #timetocheck
Breast Screening

The NHS Breast Screening program has a 5 point plan for being Breast Aware and mammography forms part of this plan as point 5.

Know what’s normal for you

Look at your breasts and feel them

Know what changes to look for

Report any changes without delay

Attend routine screening if you’re 50 or over
What does the NHS provide?
The NHS provides routine screening via three-yearly mammograms between the ages of 50-71 and then by request for any woman over the age of 71. In some areas, trials are running that mean you may be called for screening between the ages of 47 – 74. It’s also helpful to know that sometimes women are not called immediately they hit age 50 due to the location of the mobile units where they live.
Why do they screen at these ages?
Below age 40 the risks of breast cancer are much lower and breast tissue is denser, making it difficult to see smaller abnormalities that might be present, making mammograms less accurate and increasing the risk of an un-needed intervention.
Women who are between 40-49 are still considered to have a risk but a smaller one than those who are older. The upper end of this group are being trialled in some areas because it has been recognised that some interval cancers can be found in women closer to 50. The NHS do not routinely screen this age group unless in a trial area
Women between 50-71 are routinely invited for screening by the NHS every three years.
Women who are over 71 can access the programme but they need to request their three yearly screening.
The NHS have strict protocols on radiation exposure. This means that if you have had a mammogram elsewhere within 12 months of your appointment, they will be unable to screen you.
If you are aged between 40-49, you can still access mammograms via private providers. There are lots of providers and we recommend shopping around as prices can vary and are typcially around £230 for a mammogram only.
What does Lady McAdden offer?
Further to the Trustee announcement on the 14th April 2022, Lady McAdden no longer provides mammograms. Those who have visited in the past can still access their historic films – just let where you have booked into know and ask them to email info@ladymcadden.org with your patient details.
If you are eligible for an NHS mammogram, please go when invited.
What happens in a Mammogram/Breast Screening Appointment?
You will be asked to undress from the waist upwards and remove any jewellery. It is also best that you do not wear antiperspirant on the day as this can affect the mammogram.
The staff are very experienced, and they will then position you in front of the machine. Don’t worry, they see hundreds of women and their naked breasts and won’t be embarrassed. You shouldn’t be embarrassed either.
Four images will be taken, two of each breast, one from the top and one from the side. You may find it uncomfortable for a few seconds as the plastic mammogram plates will squash you a bit to get the clearest picture they can. If you find it too uncomfortable, then tell the radiographer, they can try and adjust how you are positioned.
The radiographer will check the clarity of the images and then ask you to get dressed.
The whole process only takes a few minutes and although it can be uncomfortable for some ladies, has no lasting effects.
What are the risks of radiation?
Mammograms use very small doses of radiation. The risk or harm from this exposure is very low, but repeated x-rays do have the potential to cause cancer. The benefits from mammography, however, nearly always outweigh the potential harm from the small radiation exposure. Nevertheless, women should discuss with the screening staff about the need for each x-ray.
If a woman is pregnant, they should inform the radiographer prior to this x-ray as there can be risks to the growing foetus.
To put into context our radiographer pointed out that there is less radiation in a mammogram than a return flight to Australia!


How likely is screening to pick up breast cancer?
The National Screening Service typically screen around 2.3-2.4 million women per year. From this they find approx. 0.81% to 0.89% of breast cancers, which equates to approximately 20-22,000 women. 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and almost half of those are found by women noticing changes themselves. To get assistance in checking yourself and being Breast Aware please go to our Breast Awareness page.
To contact the NHS South Essex Breast Screening Service visit here or call 01702 385024
IMPORTANT – If you notice changes in your breasts, do not wait for a breast screening appointment, contact your GP for advice immediately. If you are unsure then call one of the Lady McAdden team, who can support you in calling your GP
What happens after my mammogram has been taken?
The standard protocol is for your mammogram images to be read by two highly qualified readers. This usually takes a couple of weeks and you will receive your results via letter or email.
In the event of an abnormality with your mammogram you will be contacted for referral to a Breast Clinic.
It is common for some women to be recalled for further views due to the quality of the mammogram. This is called a “technical recall”, this is something to not be concerned about, but purely a precaution as your image may not have been clear enough.
On attending a mammogram appointment, it is important to provide the dates and details of where you have had mammograms elsewhere, as these can be shared and provide valuable for the readers to be able to compare your previous images. If you have visited Lady McAdden in the past for a mammogram, simply ask your provider to email info@ladymcadden.org with your patient details to request your historic images.
The Witham Hub
Unit 17, The Grove Shopping Centre, Witham, Essex CM8 2YT
Collected 622 Bras
Raised £457
Morrisons Witham
Braintree Rd, Witham CM8 2GD
Collected 939 Bras
Raised £788
Morley Nurseries
Southend Rd, Great Wakering, Essex SS3 0PU
Collected 280 Bras
Raised £224
My Fairytale Wardrobe
Bell St, Great Baddow, Chelmsford CM2 7JS
Collected 275 Bras
Raised £238
Hollywood Babes - Thorpe Bay
Hollywood Babes , 186 The Broadwat, Thorpe Bay, Essex SS1 3ES
Collected 174 Bras
Raised £121
Coco Boo
49 Rectory Grove Leigh on Sea SS9 2HA
Collected 595 Bras
Raised £491
The Bra Consultancy
16 Edward’s Walk, Maldon CM9 5PS
Collected 395 Bras
Raised £315
Morrisons Maldon
Limebrook Way, Maldon CM9 6GG
Collected 669 Bras
Raised £602
Harwich Library
Upper Kingsway, Dovercourt, Harwich CO12 3JT
Collected 382
Raised £291
Frinton Library
59 Old Rd, Frinton-on-Sea CO13 9DA
Bras Collected 415
Amount raised £320
Brentwood Library
New Rd, Brentwood CM14 4BP
Ingatestone Library
High Street, Ingatestone CM4 9EU
Nationwide Leigh on Sea
73 The Broadway, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1PW
Funky Barnets
714 Southchurch Road , Southend-on-Sea SS1 2PS
Total collected 464
Raising £370
Tracies Nails & Beauty
108 Rectory Road, Pitsea SS13 2AH
Tesco Pitsea
Off High Road, Pitsea SS13 3JU
My Secret Wardrobe
Wickford, Essex info@mysecretwardrobe.uk
Basildon Library
Basildon Centre, The St. Martins Square, Basildon SS14 1EE
Vange Library
Southview Road, Basildon SS16 4ET
Fryerns Library
Whitmore Way, Basildon SS14 2NN
Morrisons 284 Hadleigh
175 London Rd, Hadleigh, Benfleet SS7 2RB
Collected 2157 Bras
Raised £1662
Morrisons Canvey Island
Northwick Rd, Canvey Island SS8 0SW
Collected 1675 Bras
Raised £1323
Rochford Nail Bar
8 West St, Rochford SS4 1AJ
Collected £468 Bras
Raised £370
The HAPPY Hub
Eastgate Shopping Centre Basildon SS14 1AE
Collected 602 Bras
Raised £509
Orsett Surgery
63 Rowley Rd, Orsett, Grays RM16 3ET
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Raised £621
Mane Attraction
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Collected 153 Bras
Raised £140
Boo Boutique
11 Heralds Way, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford CM3 5TQ
Collected 300 Bras
Raised £232
Longfield and Tollesbury Surgeries
Princes Rd, Maldon CM9 5DF
Collected 869 Bras
Raised £473
Morrisons Grays
1 London Rd, Grays RM17 5XZ
Collected 491 Bras
Raised £316
Clacton Library
Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1SF
Total collected 298
Total raised £193
Rochford Library
8 Roche Close, Rochford SS4 1PX
Shenfield Library
Adult Community College, Hutton, Brentwood CM13 1BD
Collected 239 bras
Raising £169
Chipping Ongar Library
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The Ironworks - Southend
90 High St, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1JN
Waitrose and Partners Leigh on Sea
1231/1241 London Road, Leigh on Sea SS9 3JQ
Total collected 91
Total raised £75
Vange Library
Southview Road, Basildon SS16 4ET
Total collected 56
Total raised £50
Pitsea Library
Maydells, Pitsea, Basildon SS13 3DU
Total collected 91
Total raised £75
Christ Church - Stock
Christ Church, Stock, Ingatestone CM4 9BN
Westerings Primary Academy PTA
Contact The PTA, Sunny Road, Hockley, SS5 4NZ
Total collected 360
Total raised £296
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Lady McAdden Breast Cancer Trust
Registered Charity in England (1062236)
Registered company in England (03334552)
203 Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 4JH
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Registered company in England (03334552).
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