Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Rochdale
Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place every October across the UK and worldwide. In Rochdale, Greater Manchester, 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 Rochdale, NHS England services offer free mammography screening to all women aged 50–71 every three years. If you live in Rochdale 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 Rochdale: the local picture
Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, has a population of around 220,000. 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 Rochdale the best chance of catching any change early.
The importance of early detection in Rochdale
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 Rochdale.
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 Rochdale
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 Rochdale 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 Rochdale 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 Rochdale
While breast cancer awareness in Rochdale 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 Rochdale could fund a screening that saves a life on the other side of the world.