At screening

What happens during your breast screen

When you arrive at the screening clinic or mobile van, you’ll be welcomed by one of our staff. We’ll check that you’ve filled in your questionnaire and consent to screening forms. If you haven’t already done this, you can do it in the waiting room before your breast screen.

The woman who takes the breast screens will collect you from the waiting room and take you into the breast screening room. She’ll explain the process and answer any questions you might have.

When you’re ready, she’ll ask you to remove your top and bra and place your breasts one at a time onto the bottom plate of the breast screening machine. She’ll explain how to do this.

The machine will then press each breast between the top and bottom plates so the x-rays taken are as clear as possible. This may be uncomfortable but it shouldn’t be painful. If it hurts, you can ask for the breast screen to be stopped.

The machine will take at least 2 pictures of each breast – one from the top and one from the side. These pictures will later be read by at least 2 doctors who are specially trained to look for breast cancers on x-rays.

You can read the real life stories of women who have had a breast screen with us here.