A Christmas tree at Hull Minster has been adorned with knitted breasts and pink decorations to promote the importance of attending breast screening appointments.

Humberside Breast Screening Team attended the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Tree Festival to create a National Breast Screening Christmas Tree, adorned with knitted breasts and bright pink decorations, the colour used for breast cancer awareness.

The Breast Screening Team’s Christmas Tree, complete with knitted breasts and pink ‘boob-les’

Sue Whittle, Health Promotion Officer, hopes the tree will become a focal point in the famous minster to help spread the word about keeping breast screening appointment.

Sue said: “Around 1,300 lives are saved every year by attending breast screening appointments. Picking up problems at an early stage can mean the difference between life and death.

“Those who don’t come along for their screening appointments have less chance of survival if they go on to develop breast cancer because we haven’t been able to catch it early enough.

“So, we’re hoping our Christmas tree is a fun way to help family and friends encourage anyone eligible for breast screening to attend their appointments.”

Information board next to the Christmas tree

Although breast cancer is the second highest cause of cancer deaths in women, screening reveals problems early, with 98pc diagnosed with breast cancer at this stage surviving five years and beyond.

Yet, uptake by women aged 50 to 53 is as low as six per cent at some GP practices in our area. Those from Black, South Asian and Eastern European communities are also less likely to attend their appointments so the team are sharing exactly what happens during screening to remove all uncertainty.

You’ll receive your letter to attend your first breast screening sometime around your 50^th birthday. You’ll then be recalled every three years until your 71^st birthday, when your risk of developing breast cancer drops significantly.

Screening takes place in mobile screening vans, similar in size to portable cabins. The mobile vans move from location to location across the East Riding, Hull and North and North East Lincolnshire bringing screening to community venues.

It’s currently at locations including Castle Hill Hospital, Morrison’s Car Park Holderness Road Hull, Freshney Green Primary Care Centre and St Hughs Hospital site in Grimsby and will be moving to The Roxton Practice Immingham and The Lakeside Shopping Centre Scunthorpe shortly.

Here’s what happens during your screening appointment

1. Once inside, your details will be checked by the screening team and you’ll be shown to a cubicle to remove clothes from your top half, including your bra. A female mammographer will then take you to the x-ray room.
2. The mammographer will then position you in the machine and ask you to hold still while the image is being taken
3. Two pictures of each breast are taken. You may feel slight discomfort as the plate does hold the breast tight but this is to ensure a clear image is produced.
4. This takes only a few minutes and then results are sent in the post within two weeks.