Shirley Ballas joins fellow stars in backing new NHS breast cancer screening initiative and urges people to get checked

STRICTLY’S Shirley Ballas today joins fellow stars in backing a new NHS breast cancer screening initiative.

Telly’s Julia Bradbury and Victoria Derbyshire will join her in writing personal letters to patients — in the first initiative of its kind.

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It is hoped the personal touch will get more women patients to take up their first mammogram.

It came as figures showed more than four in ten turned down their first invitation, making it harder to spot cancers early on.

Some 7,500 additional breast cancers could be detected at an earlier stage, when they are more treatable.

BBC Newsnight anchor, Victoria Derbyshire, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, writes in her letter: “I’ve had breast screening multiple times.

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“When I was diagnosed, I thought I wouldn’t get to see my two little boys grow up (then aged 8 and 11).

“I thought I wouldn’t get to grow old with my partner Mark.

“I’m still here thanks to the skill of the NHS – 2025 will be 10 years since I was diagnosed.

“Breast screening might just help save your life. Please go.”

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Women are entitled to their first screening between the ages 50 and 53, then every three years afterwards until the age of 71.

In all, 56,000 breast cancer diagnoses are given every year.

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