A JOHNSTONE pensioner who has a family history of breast cancer has hit out after being refused a mammogram. 

Geraldine McNealey has been told she must wait for the potentially lifesaving check as there is a pause on self-referrals due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 73-year-old, whose mother, grandmother, aunt and two cousins all battled the disease, has previously had two breast cancer scares following the discovery of benign lumps.

With three years having passed since her last mammogram and concerned about her family’s history, Geraldine phoned the West of Scotland Breast Screening Centre twice, only to be refused the service on both occasions.

She told The Gazette: “Not everyone can detect a lump through self-examination. Sometimes they are really quite deep, like my cousin’s was. She didn’t have a clue until her mammogram.

“There is obviously a gene on the maternal side of my family increasing our risk and we need to look out for it but the centre said it’s more important that under-70s have it and they are sorry but there is absolutely nothing they can do.

“The NHS is brilliant but their hands are tied because the government says they have to draw the line somewhere.

“Maybe they just want us to die, so they don’t need to pay for our care or our pensions? It’s a sad situation to be in.”

Geraldine also contacted her doctor, who suggested she could pay for the service privately as she could not be referred unless she had concerns about a lump or was feeling unwell.

While women aged 50 to 70 are invited to have a mammogram every three years, the onus is on those past their 71st birthday to contact their local screening centre to be seen.

The programme was paused in March due to Covid but screening invitations resumed in August, with reduced capacity due to infection control measures.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at research and care charity Breast Cancer Now, said: “We are hearing on our helpline from women over 71 that not being able to self-refer and attend screening is causing anxiety.”

A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Following detailed consideration by the NHS Scotland National Screening Oversight Board, a temporary pause on self-referrals has been put in place to allow the service to prioritise the invitations for participants who should have been screened during the pause, including those aged over 71 who self-referred before the pause and those aged 50 to 70 who are due screening.

“Although the incidence of breast cancer does increase with age, the risks and benefits of breast screening for participants over the age of 71 has not been fully established and is currently being examined by the UK National Screening Committee.

“This pause on self-referrals is a temporary measure and will be regularly reviewed and lifted as soon as capacity allows.”