South-east Londoners feature in national breast screening campaign

21 February 2025 - Staff and patients from King’s College Hospital join call to save lives

Breast cancer survivors from south-east London are raising awareness of the importance of attending screening appointments by giving their voices to a national health campaign.

Philomena Ofodu from Bermondsey, Humaira Sabahat, from Bexley, and Lindsay Batty-Smith from Peckham, are among a number of women whose stories and experiences of breast cancer are being shared through NHS England’s latest campaign, which aims to encourage more women to take up the offer of a breast screening appointment.

The landmark NHS campaign sees cancer survivors across the UK join forces with celebrities, including Newsnight anchor Victoria Derbyshire, broadcaster and presenter Julia Bradbury, and Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, by sharing ‘unofficial’ screening invitation letters about their personal experiences to reassure women and encourage them to attend.

King’s College Hospital patient Philomena Ofodu was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021. She said: “When I received a letter inviting me for a mammogram appointment, I brushed it aside. Weeks later, I received a completely unrelated call from my GP asking me to come in immediately for a blood test. The urgency in his voice reminded me to put my health first, and prompted me to book the mammogram appointment I had been putting off. And as a result, doctors found I had stage two breast cancer.

“My cancer diagnosis changed my life, but because it was detected early, it was treatable. If I had not made that appointment, I might not be here now. I have the greatest gratitude to be part of this campaign, and to share my experience as a cancer survivor. It’s so important we reach out to women and let them know that these appointments should be their number one priority.”

Humaira Sabahat was diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at King’s College Hospital after she attended a screening appointment in 2016. She said: “I had no symptoms at all, and there’s no doubt in my mind that my screening appointment saved my life. Thankfully the cancer was caught in a very early stage, and I am now in remission.

“I feel very passionate about encouraging women to go along to their screening appointments. If I hadn’t attended my appointment, I might not be here today, so it’s a privilege for me to be part of this campaign, and to help save lives.”

Lindsay Batty-Smith has been both a radiographer and a patient at King’s, having been diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer following a mammogram. She said: “My breast screening appointments are my reassurance that all is well and I’m still cancer-free, but many women understandably have anxiety about attending their appointment. That’s why this campaign is so important. The more women we can encourage to come along to their screening appointments, the more lives could be saved.

“Breast screening is quick, efficient, and performed by highly trained, specialised professionals. I’m so proud to be able to represent Team King’s and the local community through this campaign.”

Francesca Fiennes, Health Promotion Specialist in the South-East London Breast Screening Programme, added: “Regular breast screening is one of the best ways to spot a cancer that is too small to feel or see yourself – it saves around 1,300 lives each year in the UK. In the meantime, if you have any symptoms you are worried could be a sign of breast cancer, have a chat with your GP as soon as possible.

“Philomena, Humaira and Lindsay are a true inspiration; they have all worked extremely hard to correct common misconceptions around breast screening, encouraging women in their local community to attend these life-saving appointments.”