Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Basildon
Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place every October across the UK and worldwide. In Basildon, Essex, the campaign promotes early detection, encourages women to book their NHS breast screening appointment, and raises funds for breast cancer programmes — locally and in communities that lack access to care.
In Basildon, NHS England services offer free mammography screening to all women aged 50–71 every three years. If you live in Basildon 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.
Breast cancer in Basildon: the local picture
Basildon, in Essex, has a population of around 113,137. Most breast cancers are diagnosed in women over 50, which is why NHS England offers routine screening from that age — but breast cancer can affect younger women too, so being breast aware at any age matters. Attending screening when you are invited gives women in Basildon the best chance of catching any change early.
The importance of early detection in Basildon
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 Basildon.
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.
Screen One More from Basildon
Screen One More is Breast Cancer Charity's October campaign. The pledge is simple: fund at least one complete screening (£25) for a woman in a low-income community who has never had a mammogram. Whether you live in Basildon or anywhere else, October is the moment to turn awareness into a measurable outcome — one more woman examined, one more chance to catch cancer early.
Pair your pledge with the 31-Day TLC Challenge: use Touch–Look–Check each day in October and share one fact about early detection. TLC self-examination guide →
How to get involved in Basildon this October
- Join Screen One More — pledge £25 (or more) to fund one screening
- Take the 31-Day TLC Challenge and share #ScreenOneMore on social media
- Book or attend your NHS breast screening appointment if you're aged 50–71
- Organise a workplace or community fundraiser and direct proceeds to screening access
- Share the TLC method with the women in your life
Breast cancer awareness beyond Basildon
While breast cancer awareness in Basildon is well-established, millions of women in low-income communities worldwide have never had a breast examination. In many of these communities, 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 Charity — 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 Basildon could fund a screening that saves a life on the other side of the world.