79-Year-Old Woman Discovers Breast Cancer After Self-Referring for Mammogram — Now She's Urging Others to Do the Same

One Woman's Decision to Book Her Own Mammogram May Have Saved Her Life

When Carol Turansky, a 79-year-old woman from Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex, contacted her local breast screening unit to arrange a mammogram, she had no reason to believe anything was wrong. No lumps, no pain, no warning signs whatsoever. Yet that single proactive decision led to a life-changing diagnosis — breast cancer, detected early enough to act on.

Now, Turansky is channeling that experience into a nationwide campaign urging women over the age of 70 to take advantage of a little-known NHS provision that allows them to self-refer for a routine mammogram every three years.

The Screening Gap Nobody Talks About

In England, women between the ages of 50 and 70 are automatically invited for breast cancer screenings on a regular basis. Once a woman turns 71, however, those invitations stop — and with them, the routine safety net that regular screening provides.

What many women don't realize is that the option to be screened doesn't disappear at 70. It simply becomes the individual's responsibility to request it. Women over 70 can contact their local breast screening unit directly or speak to their GP if they have concerns or notice any changes.

Turansky believes this distinction is not being communicated clearly enough, and she's not alone in that view.

A Petition That's Struck a Chord

Her online petition, which calls on the NHS to launch a dedicated awareness campaign informing older women about their right to self-refer for mammograms, has already gathered over 70,000 signatures. The response, she says, has been overwhelming — and deeply personal.

"There are people who have said that their mother died of cancer at 76, but if they'd had a mammogram, they might not have died because it had progressed so far," Turansky shared.

She is not demanding that the NHS reinstate automatic invitations for women over 70. Her ask is simpler and arguably more achievable: make sure every woman knows the choice exists.

"I'm not asking the NHS necessarily to continue sending out invitations — I accept that. But at least let people have the option of self-referring. Not enough people are aware that they can," she said.

A Personal History With Cancer

This is not Turansky's first encounter with breast cancer. She was diagnosed with the condition 23 years ago and navigated her way through it. That history, combined with the shock of a second diagnosis with no preceding symptoms, has only deepened her commitment to spreading the message.

"Cancer doesn't stop when you're 70 — and neither should mammograms," she said firmly.

She added that she "pats herself on the head every day" for having the presence of mind to book that appointment, and says she "shudders to think" what the outcome might have been had she not.

Turansky is currently preparing to undergo a mastectomy as part of her treatment plan.

Her husband Philip was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and passed away at the age of 78 in 2011, giving her an intimate and painful understanding of what late or missed diagnoses can mean.

Why Routine Screening Ends at 70

Sam Robinson, a former breast cancer nurse and representative from Big C — a Norfolk-based cancer charity — explained that the decision to stop automatic invitations after age 70 is rooted in clinical evidence, not indifference.

"There could be other health problems that patients have," Robinson noted. "The treatments could be detrimental to their health… that is research-based, so that's the reason why it stops for over 70s."

NHS England has also acknowledged that the risk of overdiagnosis rises with age, meaning some cancers identified through screening may never actually pose a threat to the patient's life.

"It's more likely that someone in their older years will die with breast cancer rather than from breast cancer," Robinson explained.

Nonetheless, Robinson emphasized that screening remains valuable — especially when women notice changes or have personal concerns — and encouraged anyone unsure about their options to speak with their GP or contact a local breast screening unit directly.

"If people aren't going for screening, something could easily be missed," she warned.

The Statistics Behind the Call to Action

The numbers lend significant weight to Turansky's campaign. Research indicates that approximately one in three breast cancer cases occurs in women aged 71 or older — a demographic that currently falls outside the routine NHS invitation system.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated that screening decisions are grounded in the best available evidence, with the independent UK National Screening Committee continuously reviewing all programmes.

A Trial That Could Change Everything

There is reason for cautious optimism on the horizon. Cancer Research UK and AgeX are jointly supporting a UK clinical trial designed to evaluate both the risks and benefits of extending breast cancer screening to women aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 73. The findings from this trial are expected to be published in 2027.

Until that evidence is in hand, Turansky's message remains urgent and personal.

"Tell your mother, your aunt, your neighbour — get a mammogram," she said.

For women over 70 who wish to arrange a routine mammogram, the process is straightforward: contact your local breast screening unit directly, or speak to your GP if you've noticed any changes in your breast health. Don't wait for an invitation that may never arrive.