A BREAST cancer screening unit is moving to Fleetwood in a bid to encourage more women in the town to use the life-saving service.

Health workers have been concerned not enough women in Fleetwood are using the mobile unit at its present location in Poulton town centre.

And to combat the problem the unit will be moved to a more user-friendly site at the leisure centre on the Esplanade in Fleetwood on February 21 for a period of three months.

It will return to the town every three years after spells in Poulton, South Shore and Preston.

Breast cancer is one of the biggest killers among women and early diagnosis can be a lifesaver. On average 75 per cent of women between the ages of 50 and 64 take advantage of screening which can detect any abnormalities but health workers are determined to improve this figure.

The unit can deal with 62 women a day and the simple procedure takes just five minutes.

Films are processed the next day in Lancaster and the result in the form of a letter is sent direct to the women's home one week to ten days later.

Helen Smith of the North West Health Authority's breast screening services department said: "We are looking forward to giving Fleetwood women the opportunity to access this service and we want to encourage as many women as possible to take advantage of it.

"The breast screening service is for their benefit - we want them to use it!"

Women over the age of 64 can ring the unit direct to make an appointment on (01524) 583050.

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