WHEN Judith Lee found a lump in her breast, she went straight to her doctor.
She had a cyst. It wasn't cancerous. She carried on with life.
But since then, the 68-year-old retired teacher from Cromford has never missed an appointment for a mammogram.
"Over a period of time, I discovered a few cysts in my breast," she said. "Every time, I wondered if the situation was going to be serious. I was told they were sebaceous cysts and I had them aspirated."
Today, Judith is visiting one of Derby's mobile breast screening units. It is parked in Wirksworth – just a few miles away from her home.
"I came on the bus and I'm really early but the staff are happy to see me now," she said.
"It is wonderful that I can come here instead of going to hospital. When I was in my 40s, I developed quite a few cysts in my breast.
"Thankfully, it was nothing to worry about. But I remember feeling worried when I felt the first lump. Of course, you don't know what it is.
"Your first thought makes you feel a bit panicky. It is always a relief when you come for the mammogram and the results are clear. It is so convenient to use the mobile unit."
Around 50 women will receive their mammograms on this mobile breast screening unit today, which is parked at the Hannage Brook Medical Centre in Wirksworth.
From 9am, the small 'bus' and its staff – Jean Bonsall, superintendent radiographer, and Rachel Riley, assistant practitioner – will welcome a steady flow of women.
"On average, appointments last around six minutes," smiled 44-year-old Rachel. "It doesn't take long for us to do a mammogram.
"When a lady arrives, we check her in on our system and she waits for her screening test. It is a very speedy process.
"Sometimes, women fail to show up, but our take-up rate is very, very good. We know that women feel happier to keep their appointment if they can come to the mobile unit.
"It is so much for convenient for ladies and they do not have to travel to the Royal Derby Hospital.
"Some women feel more anxious about their appointments when they are at the hospital.
"This environment can suit a lady better because it is not in an acute environment."
First onboard is Sally Ames. She lives in nearby Middleton and arrives as the door is unlocked.
Despite working at the Royal Derby Hospital, she says the mobile screening unit is convenient.
"I've just come from home," said the 53-year-old. "You want a service like this to be local. Getting a bus or a train to Derby is time-consuming. This is far simpler."
Naomi Feldman, 52, from Wirksworth, is feeling slightly apprehensive when she arrives. This is her second mammogram and she's nervous.
After this appointment, the training coordinator is off to the dentist for treatment.
"This isn't going to be the best day for me," she said. "But I do know how important it is to look after yourself.
"Going to the hospital for a mammogram would have hyped me up even more."
Naomi knows how vital it is to have her mammogram today.
She has lost a dear friend to breast cancer and she knows another woman who recently had a double mastectomy.
She said: "This is about taking care of yourself and taking up the offer of an appointment when you are sent one. I think the mobile unit is fantastic. Truly fantastic."
Rachel books ladies in at a desk. At the other end of the unit, there's the state-of-the-art hospital department where hi-tech screening kit is taking digital images of women's breasts to check for abnormalities.
The two breast screening units are run by Derby Hospitals.
In one year, the unit visits ten sites across the county and more than 30,000 women will have their screening tests on the mobile van.
Screening also takes place at the Royal Derby Hospital and the London Road Community Road Hospital.
Next to arrive is cyclist Sue Todd, 67, a retired secondary school teacher from Whatstandwell, and Fran Higton, 50, from Wirksworth.
Sue has lost count of how many mammograms she has had – but it is Fran's first time.
"I've cycled two miles to get here," said Sue. "But that's nothing. I'm going out on my bike after this appointment. It is very convenient."
Fran is a community staff nurse at the medical centre, where the mobile van is parked.
She has come for her appointment before she starts work and is dreading it.
"I am nervous," she said. "It is my first time. I've been told what to expect but I feel so much better being able to come to the mobile van. I have been dreading today, but now I'm here I just want to get it done, then I can get to work."
Dr Anne Turnbull, consultant radiologist and director for breast screening at Derby hospitals, said: "Nationally, it is estimated that screening can save around 1,400 lives every year.
"It can show changes in the breast up to two years before symptoms appear.
"Eighty per cent of breast cancer cases occur in woman over 50 years old and the risk of breast cancer increases as we get older.
"If you receive an invitation, please attend your appointment. It will only take 10 minutes and it may save your life."
Jean Bonsall, 51, has worked for the NHS for 29 years. She is highly qualified in her role as superintendent radiographer. As part of her job, she spends time on the mobile unit.
She said: "The take-up rate for appointments on the unit is high. Around 81 per cent of women attend their appointments.
"We know that the mobile unit is convenient for ladies who live nearby.
"Women will come to us if they are worried about going to hospital for the screening test.
"They feel more comfortable to visit the mobile unit.
"Remember, ladies, this screening programme is not about prevention – it is about detection.
"It is very important to get that first mammogram image so we can detect any changes which may occur in the years to come."
Thanks to Jean and Rachel – and their prompt patients – the morning runs like clockwork. The radio is playing, the staff are welcoming and there is a real sense of calm about the place.
At the end of each day, the images from the machine are downloaded and stored on a film cartridge. They are taken to the Royal Derby Hospital and assessed by two experienced film readers.
Two weeks later, women will receive their results. They are sent out to their home.
Rachel said: "We know that it can be a worrying time for women who are called back to hospital but for many of them it doesn't necessarily mean that they have cancer.
"And if it does turn out that something small is detected, treatment can begin straight away."
Last year, 160 cancers were detected onboard the mobile breast screening vans run by Derby Hospitals.
Since breast screening began in 1989, huge numbers of women have undergone life-saving mammograms.
It is each woman's choice whether or not to have breast screening. All women aged 50 to 70 are invited for breast screening every three years. Some older and younger women are also being invited as part of a study of screening in different age groups.
Women over 70 are still at risk of breast cancer.
Although they will no longer automatically get invitations after that age, they can still have breast screening every three years on request. They are advised to ask their GP for more information.
