'More women should attend breast cancer screening'

Mary Vickers is fundraising for the breast unit in Grimsby that looked after her following her breast cancer diagnosis

A woman diagnosed with breast cancer is urging women to attend screenings after NHS figures showed take-up in North East Lincolnshire was below the national average.

Mary Vickers, 68, from Healing near Grimsby, was diagnosed after a routine mammogram in June 2024.

She is about to embark on a fundraising walk between two hospitals to raise money for the breast unit that looked after her and raise awareness about the importance of having a mammogram.

She said: "Sadly, so many just don't turn up, but having a mammogram can save your life! So, if you're called, go."

In North East Lincolnshire, figures from NHS England showed there was a 64.9% uptake of breast screening in women aged 53 to 71 between 2021 and 2024, compared to the England average of 70%.

The figure in Hull is 68.9%, but in the East Riding (80.8%) and North Lincolnshire (75.5%), the figures are above average.

Ms Vickers said: "I was diagnosed last year, it was a routine mammogram and there were absolutely no signs and it was aggressive.

"If I hadn't had that mammogram and the timing hadn't been just right who knows what might have happened?

"Please go for your mammograms when you're called. We have a really poor response rate here.

"Mammograms can save lives as can other screenings."

Ms Vickers received treatment at The Pink Rose Suite at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, as well as radiotherapy at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham.

Fundraising walk

Now, she's embarking on a five-day fundraising walk between Castle Hill and Grimsby hospital.

She will be splitting up the walk so she does part of the 50-mile journey every day between 6 and 10 October.

She added: "I received excellent treatment from the staff on the Pink Rose Suite, so wanted to give something back to say thanks.

"There are several things they need that can't be routinely provided without donations.

"I've set a target to raise £1,000 but I just hope to get as much as possible."

The walk is timely as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Helen Lindley, advanced nurse practitioner on the suite, said: "I want to say a big thank you to Mary for taking on this challenge.

"The funds she'll raise will go towards improving patient experience on the unit."

According to the NHS, women are invited for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53 and are then invited every three years until the age of 71.

Anybody over the age of 71 is not automatically invited for breast screening but can still have screening every three years if they want to.

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