IRVINE’S MP has spoken out after new figures show a drop in Ayrshire women attending breast screening clinics.

Dr Philippa Whitford, a former breast cancer surgeon, said she was disappointed to see a three per cent fall in 2014-15 of women in Ayrshire who attended screenings on the previous years.

And the Central Ayrshire politician is now calling on more women in her constituency to attend routine screenings.

New NHS figures show one third of women across Scotland eligible didn’t go for a routine examination in 2014-15, resulting in the lowest uptake for over 10 years.

In Ayrshire & Arran however, the uptake at 72.5 per cent is still above the Scottish Government’s 70 per cent performance standard.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Scotland with around 400 diagnosed per year in Ayrshire and Arran alone. 

Approximately half of those diagnosed visit their GP with symptoms and the other half are diagnosed through the South West Scotland Breast Screening Programme, which covers both the Ayrshire and Arran and Dumfries and Galloway health board areas.

Women aged 50 to 70 are invited every three years for a
routine mammogram with the aim of detecting breast cancer at an early stage and, thereby, increasing the likelihood of successful treatment.

Commenting on the figures, Dr Whitford, the SNP’s health spokesperson at Westminster, said: “It is disappointing to see a drop in the number of women attending breast screening clinics. 

“Screening is a hugely important service as breast cancer in its early stages can be extremely difficult to detect through a physical  examination whereas tumours just millimetres in size can be picked up through the screening process.

 “Although the take up rate in Ayrshire and Arran is consistently above 70 per cent, which compares extremely favourably with many other areas of the country, the recent drop is nonetheless concerning.”

She added: “The fall in uptake is likely to be related to the discussion in recent years over concerns that screening could result in older women receiving treatment for a cancer that might never have caused them a problem. 

“However, the survival rate for breast cancer has improved dramatically in recent years and that is undoubtedly due to improvements in treatment and early diagnosis; therefore, the benefits of screening far outweigh any drawbacks.”

"As a breast cancer surgeon for over 30 years, I know that screening saves lives as the earlier cancer is detected the easier it is to treat successfully.

“I cannot overestimate how important it is to attend the clinic when invited.”