Private clinics in the UK have experienced massively in the past five years according to new research released by WhatClinic.com in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The research shows that not only has the enquiry for mammograms increased but breast reconstruction too, this has increased by 249% in the past five years and the highest percentage of women asking for mammograms and breast reconstruction were between 35 and 44.
Health on Female First
Each year almost 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer and it is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women. Thanks to screening procedures such as mammograms and improvements in cancer treatment, more than eight out of ten people survive breast cancer past five years and both ten year and twenty year survival rates have significantly improved as well.
The figures also show a marked increase in the number of patients looking for breast implants, with a 601% increase, a 179% increase for nipple procedures, including inverted nipple surgery, nipple reduction and areola reduction.
Breast checks are particularly important for those in a high-risk category. The three main risk factors for breast cancer are - gender, age and family history. Women are far more likely to develop breast cancer than men, the older the person the higher the risk, more than 80% of breast cancer cases occur in women over the age of 50 and around 5% of people diagnosed with breast cancer have inherited a faulty gene.
Free breast screening is available to women aged 50-70 every three years by the NHS. WhatClinic.com provides patients with access to private screening clinics that offer expert breast checks including mammogram screening, MRI and ultrasound. All of these treatments can be useful in the early detection of breast cancer. Your GP or screening centre will advise on which is the best screening option for you.
Speaking about the importance of screening and early treatment, Mr Simon Marsh, Consultant Breast Surgeon at The London Breast Clinic said "It is very important to detect breast cancer as early as possible to ensure the best and most effective treatment possible. Screening, such as regular mammograms and ultrasounds for those at risk, and awareness campaigns have proven very successful. Treatment has also come a long way and we have a very high survival rate thanks to research and developments in this area."
"Mammograms are important for those who have had their breasts enlarged too, this procedure won't rupture your implants. I urge anyone who might be worried to seek advice from your healthcare professional and make sure you are more breast aware."
Commenting on the data trends, Emily Ross, director of WhatClinic.com, said "It is really encouraging to see the growth in enquiries for mammograms over the past five years. It's also great to see that this campaign is having a real impact, with traffic and enquiries for mammograms already up in October this year."
However, she goes on to highlight that much of the general breast check advice for women does not take into consideration those who have breast implants.
"It's important for all women to get regularly checked whether they have had implants or not. There is a common misconception that having a mammogram after implants can be more painful or risky, which is simply not the case. However, depending on the size, volume and placement of your implants, it may be a little more difficult to spot lumps and bumps in a self-check at home, so women with implants should make an extra effort to find out about appropriate screening."
Tagged in Breast Cancer