READ FULL REPORT from BREAST CANCER NOW Yesterday, the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, made a statement to Parliament about a 'serious failure' of the Breast Screening Programme in England. Due to an IT problem, an estimated 450,000 women aged between 68-71 have not been invited to their final screening appointment since 2009. This will therefore affect women who are currently up to the age of 79. From this week until the end of May, the NHS will send letters to all those women who are affected and are registered with a GP. The NHS believes that this issue will not affect Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but they’re looking at ways to identify women who have moved from England to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you have been affected by these issues, please contact the national Public Health England helpline which has been set up on 0800 169 2692 or go to the NHS Choices website for more information. ADVISE FROM BREAST DENSITY MATTERS UK: FOR WOMEN OFFERED FOLLOW-UP MAMMOGRAMS. Whilst density of breasts tends to reduce with age; about 25% of women aged 60 and over retain dense tissue which can lead to masking of cancers. ASK: What is my density?