A nurse who was diagnosed with cancer despite suffering no signs or symptoms is urging others to go for their mammograms.

Mary Rigby, from Blackpool, was diagnosed with grade one breast cancer back in September 2022 following her second routine test.

The 55-year-old had been for her initial mammogram several months earlier but was invited back for a second screening and a biopsy. Mammograms are tests using X-rays to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel.

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On the morning of her wedding day on September 9, Mary received a call from a breast care nurse to arrange an MRI and bone scan. By that point, she suspected something was seriously wrong.

Sadly, her worst fears were confirmed several days later when tests revealed the new bride had bilateral breast cancer, a rare type of cancer in which tumours are found simultaneously in both breasts.

Mary’s treatment included therapeutic mammoplasty on both breasts, bilateral sentinel lymph node biopsies and s course of high-intensity radiotherapy. Thankfully, she is now cancer-free.

“Although I had no signs of symptoms, I was called back to have a repeat mammogram and a biopsy taken. I suspected then that it was cancer,” Mary said.

“On the morning of my wedding, on the 9 September, the breast care nurse called, and I asked for her to call back the following Monday, when they arranged a bone scan and an MRI.

“Unfortunately, following the MRI, they found a further area in my other breast which also turned out to be cancer. So bilateral breast cancer.

“Although the high-intensity radiotherapy is fewer sessions, as it was bilateral, I was left feeling completely exhausted.”

Newly published data shows around a third of eligible people in the north west region didn’t take up their recent mammogram invitations.

Now urging others to go for regular mammograms, Mary added: “Not all breast cancer can be felt. The mammogram detected something that even the consultant couldn’t feel, so please just go for your mammogram. It could save your life.”

Mary is just one of the more than 2,400 women across the north west who was diagnosed with cancer following breast screening in 2022-2023.

Recently published NHS England screening data showed that last year, 66.7 per cent of eligible people attended their mammograms in the north west, meaning more than 90,000 people didn’t take up the invite.

National figures on Cancer Survival in England show that 91 per cent of women diagnosed at an early stage of breast cancer, where the tumour is small at stage 1 and has a survival rate of at least five years.

The five-year survival rate for diagnosis at a late stage, where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body at stage 4, is 39 per cent.

Under the NHS Breast Screening Programme, eligible women will usually receive their first routine invitation for breast cancer between the ages of 50 and 53 and will normally be invited every three years until they are 70.

Women should look out for their invitation letter and follow the instructions to book an appointment at their local screening service.

Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical director for NHS England North West, said: “Mary’s story show just how effective the breast screening programme is in the early detection of cancer, and just how important it is to attend when you’re invited – even if your previous mammogram was clear.

“Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, but also has one of the highest survival rates, which is in part thanks to the breast screening programme, as early detection makes all the difference.

“If you’ve been invited for your mammogram, I would encourage you to book your appointment as soon as you can, as it could save your life.”

NHS England is now asking women of all ages to ensure they check themselves for cancer symptoms.

It takes only a few minutes to perform and can help detect breast cancers at an earlier stage.

The health service says women should continue to look at and check breasts regularly, even if they have recently received a mammogram. Anyone who has noticed any abnormal changes should contact their GP as soon as possible.

Women are encouraged to use the ‘TLC’ method for checking their breasts and can visit Breast Cancer Now for more information.

· TOUCH your breasts. Can you feel anything new or unusual?

· LOOK for changes. Does anything look different?

· CHECK any new or unusual changes with your GP