Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Stoke-on-Trent
Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place every October across the UK and worldwide. In Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, 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 Stoke-on-Trent, NHS England services offer free mammography screening to all women aged 50–71 every three years. If you live in Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent: the local picture
Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, has a population of around 261,302. 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 Stoke-on-Trent the best chance of catching any change early.
The importance of early detection in Stoke-on-Trent
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 Stoke-on-Trent.
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 Stoke-on-Trent
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 Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent
While breast cancer awareness in Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent could fund a screening that saves a life on the other side of the world.