October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this month is also the 20th anniversary of the breast screening programme in Torbay and South Devon.
To mark this occasion, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust held a celebration within the Breast Care Unit at Torbay Hospital on Friday afternoon, 25 October.
In attendance were current staff and executives, those who had worked for the team over the decades including key people who helped set up the screening programme 20 years ago, representatives from Torbay Hospital League of Friends, some of the first patients screened when the service was launched, and MP for Newton Abbot, Martin Wrigley.
Screening programme director Dr Katie Giles said: “Over the past two decades, our local screening programme has screened around 200,000 women and detected around 2,000 cancers; we are saving lives.
“It is important to remember that breast cancer remains a killer disease for some, and we sadly expect over 11,000 deaths from breast cancer in the UK this year. However, we must celebrate the positives and the gains we have made. Since the 1970s, deaths from breast cancer have decreased by 40% in the UK thanks mostly to the roll-out of the screening programme.
“We have not rested on our laurels in the last 20 years and have embraced change while continuing to strive for excellence. We have introduced new medical treatments and technologies like tomography, and are able to offer our patients more surgical breast reconstruction opportunities than ever before.
“We are also offering our patients the chance to enrol in research trials and we have also welcomed the arrival of our new mobile screening unit within the last year.
“The national screening service have set us the target of increasing uptake of breast screening from 70% to 80% by 2028, and we are ready for the challenge.”
At the turn of the century, breast radiologist Dr Richard Heafield was the real driver for change and his efforts were pivotal in Torbay and South Devon launching its own screening service.
Sadly, he died in 2018, but some of the key members of his team managed to attend the celebration that was held on at the breast screening unit including Gina Skipwith.
Breast screening programme manager Rob Willox added: “Screening mammograms help us to detect breast cancer at a very early opportunity, most commonly before a breast lump is even felt. Early diagnosis means earlier treatment, better outcomes and improved survival rates for patients.
“Last year alone, we screened 12,777 women at both our mobile unit and static unit. 12,303 of these were a normal result, with 474 investigated for further assessment. 1,730 women were being screened for the first time.
“The mobile unit and team of mammographers travel the length and breadth of Torbay and South Devon NHS’ patch to offer breast screening to clients in their own communities. This avoids the need to travel long distances or undertake complex journeys on public transport when accessing breast screening.
“I would also like to mention the unwavering support from the Torbay Hospital League of Friends; they have helped us to purchase a number of very large, expensive and vital pieces of equipment along the way, allowing us to provide the great service that we deliver.”
A video of the event is available which features a conversation between Susan Boal, the first screening patient from 20 years ago, who also cut the cake on the day, and Dr Katie Giles.
Further details about the Breast Care Unit can be found on Torbay and South Devon’s website.
You can join us on our social media pages, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Threads where you can keep up to date with whats going on in South Devon.
Got a news story, blog or press release that you’d like to share or want to advertise with us? Get in touch via email admin@wearesouthdevon.com
