Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Stoke-on-Trent
Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place every October and is one of the most widely observed health campaigns in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and across the UK. The campaign promotes early detection, encourages women to book their NHS breast screening appointment, and raises funds for breast cancer research and treatment.
In Stoke-on-Trent, NHS England services offer free mammography screening to all women aged 50–71 every three years. If you live in Stoke-on-Trent and are registered with a GP, you will be automatically invited for screening. Women over 71 can self-refer by contacting their local NHS breast screening unit.
The importance of early detection in Stoke-on-Trent
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in England. Around 1 in 7 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. The good news is that when detected early, the five-year survival rate in the UK exceeds 85%. Regular NHS screening and breast self-awareness are the two most effective tools available to every woman in Stoke-on-Trent.
The NHS recommends all women become "breast aware" — meaning they know how their breasts normally look and feel, so any change can be spotted early. The Touch–Look–Check (TLC) method is the NHS-recommended approach to self-awareness and takes only a few minutes.
How to get involved in Stoke-on-Trent this October
- Wear a pink ribbon and encourage conversations about breast health
- Book or attend your NHS breast screening appointment if you're aged 50–71
- Share the TLC method with the women in your life
- Organise a fundraising event at your workplace, school or community group
- Donate to fund free breast cancer screening in communities without access
Breast cancer awareness beyond Stoke-on-Trent
While breast cancer awareness in Stoke-on-Trent is well-established, millions of women in low-income communities worldwide have never had a breast examination. In countries such as Pakistan and Indonesia, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is around 40% — less than half the UK figure. The difference is not biology. It is access to screening, education and early diagnosis.
Breast Cancer Awareness — an initiative of World Aid Network — funds mobile screening units, community health educators and subsidised treatment for women in the communities most at risk. This October, a donation from Stoke-on-Trent could fund a screening that saves a life on the other side of the world.