Contact the Breast Screening Team
For more information or to change or alter your appointment:
I have limited mobility. Do I need to contact you before my appointment?
If you have limited mobility, use a wheelchair, walking aids, or are unable to climb stairs, please contact the screening office before your appointment.
The mobile units are not accessible for some clients with limited mobility, especially wheelchairs, so we would rebook your appointment at one of our static sites (St James’s University Hospital in Leeds, Trinity Walk Shopping Centre in Wakefield or Wharfedale Hospital in Otley).
Unfortunately, despite everyone’s best efforts, it is sometimes not possible to perform a mammogram safely. If this is the case for you, we will speak to you individually.
I have learning disabilities or care for someone who would need additional support. Should I contact the screening office before an appointment?
Please contact the screening office to discuss with a member of the team. If you are unsure whether to have a mammogram, you are welcome to come and look around your nearest screening site and speak to a member of the team to discuss your worries or concerns.
The Leeds Learning Disability Service provides accessible resources to support women with learning disabilities in accessing breast screening The West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance has developed a series resources in different languagesI have a sensory impairment (hearing or sight). Should I let you know?
Yes, please. Contact the screening office before your appointment. We will be able to offer a more suitable appointment.
We can also use the Relay UK app to discuss your appointment with youWe also have some information videos below that have been created by the team at Dudley, Wolverhampton and South West Staffordshire Breast Screening Service who have kindly given us permission to share them:
A video guide to the Breast Screening (mammogram) appointment for the Deaf Community
Lesley is a deaf woman who has been invited for a mammogram. The video does not have sound but uses a British Sign Language interpreter and closed captioning to translate the radiographer explaining to Lesley what will happen during her mammogram and what the results process is.
A video guide to the Breast Screening (mammogram) appointment for the Deaf Community
Lesley: “I have received a letter from the NHS for a free mammogram. I’ve never had a scan before and I don’t know what to expect but the leaflet has plenty of information. I’m worried about how I might be able to communicate during my appointment. An interpreter can be booked for me if I ask for one when I book my appointment, or I have the option of arranging my own.”
*Lesley goes to the mobile screening van and meets the BSL interpreter outside*
BSL interpreter: “what time is your appointment?”
Lesley: “Quarter to nine”
BSL interpreter: “Early. Shall we go in?
*Lesley and the Interpreter go inside the mobile screening van*
Radiographer: “Morning, how are you?”
*Lesley gives the radiographer her appointment letter*
Radiographer: “Thank you. Can you confirm your name, date of birth and address please?”
Lesley: “Lesley Jones. 9th May 1960. 123 Parkland Avenue.”
Radiographer: “Have you ever had a mammogram before?”
Lesley: “No, never.”
Radiographer: “If you can sign and date the back please to say that you have never had a mammogram before. My colleague Julie will be taking you in for your mammogram.”
Julie: “Hi there, I’m Julie. If you would like to come with me.”
*Julie, Leslie and the interpreter go into the x-ray room*
Julie: “Hello, I’m Julie. I’m your radiographer. I’ll be doing your mammogram today. If you could confirm your name, address and date of birth please?”
Lesley: “Lesley Jones. 123 Parkland Avenue. 9th may 1960.”
Julie: “Could you also tell me which ethnicity relates to you?
*Julie shows list of ethnicities*
*Lesley points to White British*
Julie: “Thank you. Is this the first time you are having a mammogram?”
Lesley: “Yes.”
Julie: “I will explain to you what I am going to do. I’ll be doing four x-rays of your breasts. Your breasts will sit on here. The pressure plate will come down and compress your breasts. There will be two on each side with the machine in this position and then I will turn the machine side to side. I’ll just show you what I need you to do. If you would like to just stand here and I will show you what I am going to do. I will get you to lean in”
*Julie shows position for first mammogram position and then moves machine on to its side*
Julie: “I will also get you to lean in and move your shoulder over.”
*Julie shows position for second mammogram position*
Julie: “Are you happy with everything?”
*Lesley nods*
Julie: “I would like to ask the interpreter to step outside and I will call you if I need to”
*Lesley is now positioned for the mammogram*
Julie: “Step forward and please remove your glasses”
*Lesley has the full mammogram and leaves the mobile screening unit*
Lesley: “My mammogram appointment is now finished. I will receive a letter with the results within three weeks.”
How to be breast aware – An information video for the Deaf Community.
A woman named Robina sits down with a Breast Care Nurse named Helen to discuss how to be Breast Aware and what signs and symptoms to look out for. A woman named Vikki does British Sign Language interpretation for the conversation.
How to be breast aware | An information video for the Deaf Community
Robina: “Hello, my name’s Robina.
Why am I here today? Well, really to learn about breast disease and breast self-care because I don’t know a lot about it yet. I haven’t seen any information about how to help myself.”
Helen: “Hi Robina, my name’s Helen.
I’m one of the Breast Care nurses at Russells Hall Hospital, part of the Dudley Group NHS Trust. As a breast cancer nurse, my job involves looking after those undergoing investigations for or diagnosed with breast cancer.
A really important part of my job is breast awareness and health promotion.”
R: “Lovely to meet you. My name’s Robina.
I’m here today because I want to know more about breast disease and breast care, because
I don’t know anything about it and what the processes are or anything.”
Vikki: “Hi, my name’s Vikki.
I’m a British Sign Language interpreter.”
H: “Nice to meet you both. Robina, can I ask you – Do you check your own breasts now?”
R: “I haven’t no, I really don’t know a lot about breast care or how to do it. When I’ve had a bath, I might have had a little feel and just thought everything’s OK. But really, how do I know? What am I checking for?
There’s no information around about breast checking or care and it’s quite difficult to know which part of my breast I should be checking or what my nipple should look like, or whether I check underneath. And what if I find something?
Could you explain it for me? Give me some more information?”
H: “Of course, no problem. So, the advice that we would give you is that you are the best person to check your own breasts. We don’t advise that you ask your GP or another health professional to routinely check your breasts, you’re the best person to do that because you know what your breasts feel like and what’s normal for you if you check your breast regularly, you’re more likely to be able to pick up a change and pick a change up earlier. So, if you like, I can demonstrate how we would recommend you check your breasts and then maybe talk about what you should look out for?”
R: “Yes, that would be really helpful. I’d be interested if you could show me that, please.”
H: “We usually recommend that you check your breasts once a month, pick a time that’s convenient for you. If you’re still having regular periods, we would advise that you wait for a week after your period to let your breast tissue settle down. Make sure you pick a time when you’re relaxed and comfortable.
There’s no right or wrong way to examine your breasts, the most important thing is that you’re carrying out, that you’re getting to know what’s normal for you, and that means that you’re more likely to pick up any changes. It’s really important, as well as touching your breasts to examine them, that you look at them to see if you can see any visual changes in your breasts.
So, standing in front of a mirror with your top off, we would advise that you have a good look at your breasts to see if there are any visual changes that are new. With your arms above your head, look from the front and from the sides. Look with your hands on your hips and your shoulders rolled forwards from the front and the sides and also with your hands down by your sides. That way, if there is anything that looks different, you’re more likely to see it.
After you’ve done that, you can either lie on the bed, if that’s how you feel comfortable or some women prefer to do it with a soapy hand in the shower, either is absolutely fine. Using the flat of your hand here, cover all the breast tissue, pressing firmly to feel for any changes.
R: “Oh, I just thought it was the small area at the front. I didn’t realise it extended up to my collarbone.”
H: “It’s worth remembering that you’ve got breast tissue extending under your arm here and up to your collarbone, which not a lot of people know. It’s important to cover all this area, not just the part that sits in your bra.
It’s also important to feel your nipple and look at your nipple, feel behind the nipple for any changes or new lumps. At the same time, make sure that you feel along your collarbone and the glands in this area and also the glands in your armpit for any new lumps or any changes.”
R: “OK, that’s really interesting. Excellent.
Could I ask a question? So, if I find a lump when I’m checking or I can see a lump, but it doesn’t hurt, how do I know what I should do? So, do I just leave it? Or do I have to go to get a referral from the GP or what? What is the process if it doesn’t hurt?”
H: “If you find a new lump, I would recommend that you go to your GP and discuss this new change in your breast with your GP so that they can then make a referral to a specialist clinic where you can have the appropriate examination and investigations.
Would it be helpful if I told you what some of the things to look and feel for were?”
R: “Yes, it would. Yes, please.”
H: “No problem. Obviously, if you examine your breasts regularly, you’re going to get more used to what’s normal for you. So, if there are any even slight changes, you’ll be more likely to pick them up.
What we generally advise women to look out for is any new lump or thickening where the tissue feels different to the rest of the breast tissue. Any changes to the skin, like puckering or dimpling, any redness or rash around the nipple. Any change to the skin that potentially looks like orange peel. If you have any discharge or liquid coming out of your nipple without squeezing. Any pain in your breast or in your armpits. If your nipple changes its position or size or shape on your breast, or if it becomes inverted or turned in. If you have any swelling in your collarbone or your armpit, or any change in size or shape of your breast.”
R: “Wow, OK.”
H: “Although these might not be indicative of a problem, they are symptoms that you should get checked out by making an appointment with your GP.”
R: “OK, thank you very much. If I check my breast and I find something, a lump or something, that concerns me about what I have to do, should I go to the hospital or what could you advise me, please?”
H: “Of course, it’s perfectly natural to be hesitant about checking your breasts, and lots of people worry about doing this in case they find something. They’re worried, they’re not doing it correctly, and they’re worried what will happen if they do find a change that needs checking out. If you do find a new change, then you do need to get that checked out straightaway by your GP, who will refer you to see somebody at the hospital to get that looked at.
It’s really important to be breast aware that is the most important thing that you can do when talking about breast health. But it’s also really important that you go for regular screening mammograms when you’re called as part of the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme.
It’s worth mentioning that mammograms, although they’re a very good screening tool, don’t pick up all breast cancers and cancers can occur in between your three yearly mammograms and also, some types of breast cancer don’t always show up on a mammogram.
So, we do advise ladies not to rely on mammograms alone and they must be used in combination with breast awareness.”
R: “That’s really interesting, thank you very much.
I’m a bit concerned about whether an interpreter would be there at the hospital when I arrive. Would I be able to access an interpreter for this?”
H: “Certainly. If your GP highlights on the referral that this is something you require then the hospital can arrange this for when you come to your appointment.”
R: “That’s fantastic. Thank you.
I wanted to know if there’s any further awareness or information for breast cancer that I can access?”
H: “Definitely. There’s lots of resources online that give you advice on how best to examine yourself and be breast aware and what signs and symptoms to look out for. Breast Cancer Now is a great website with lots of information about this.
It’s also a good idea to follow breast screening services on social media and look out for local health promotion events.”
R: “Fantastic. Thank you so much for your help today.”
H: “Thank you very much.”
R: “Wow, that was really fantastic and I’ve had lots of information given to me. I’ve learnt such a lot and taken that on about breast issues so thank you very much to the Breast Team.”
NHS England has also developed a British Sign Language version of their Breast Screening information which can be found via the below link.