Breast Cancer Service for the Women of Herefordshire
Cobalt is a medical charity supporting people with cancer across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire
and Worcestershire. Founded in 1964 the Charity’s Imaging Centre in Cheltenham now provides
the very best diagnostic imaging equipment and treatment planning not usually available through
local hospitals. The Charity also provides funding for research and equipment for the NHS across
the three counties.
Cobalt is supporting the development of the breast
cancer screening and assessment service at Hereford
County Hospital by providing state-of-the-art digital
mammography equipment.
This new equipment unit will not only assist in the
diagnosis of breast cancer but will mean that patients in
Herefordshire who currently need to travel to
Bromsgrove or Cheltenham can be seen at their local
hospital.
The cost of this new mammography equipment is £168,000.
Cobalt launched a community appeal to the public in July 2012 and a number of local trusts will
also be approached in order to raise the money to purchase the equipment.
Provision of this new mammography equipment is crucial to the women of Herefordshire and will
ensure that:

Women are diagnosed with the best technology thus helping to alleviate stress and anxiety
for the majority and providing early, accurate diagnosis for the unfortunate few

Investigations are carried out in a location close to their home and family, increasing the
attendance rate of routine mammography screening. Travelling long distances for
investigations is likely to reduce the number of women attending and disproportionately
affect groups most at risk – older women, lower socio-economic groups and ethnic
communities

Quick early diagnosis is achieved which will facilitate early treatment.
Outcomes in many patient cases include:
a) Reduced suffering as a result of treatments starting sooner
b) Improved survival outcomes
d) Reduced time spent in hospital
Breast Cancer
In the UK breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women, after lung
cancer. One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some time in their lives and, of these,
four out of every five new cases are diagnosed in women aged 50 or over.
The Office of National Statistics information shows that, whilst the incidence of breast cancer has
been increasing steadily, there has been a significant drop in the mortality rate since the
introduction of breast screening in 1989.
Figure 1 – Breast Cancer - Incidence & Mortality *
Currently 10,000 patients from Herefordshire need screening each year and countless lives are be
saved as a result of early, accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment afforded by this new
equipment. It is estimated that the NHS Breast Screening Programme nationally now saves 1,300
lives every year.
* www.statistics.gov.uk 20.11.12
Project Supervisors
Dr Peter Wilson
Helen Byard
Mel Bolton
Simon Horrocks
Clinical Director, Consultant Radiologist
Lead Cancer Nurse Manager
Diagnostic Services Manager
Communications Lead