Woman's petition for automatic breast cancer screening for over 70s nears 100,000 signatures
Carol Toranski, diagnosed at 79, campaigns for NHS to automatically invite women over 70 for mammograms; petition has 76,000 signatures.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 79 is campaigning for the NHS to automatically invite women over 70 for mammograms. Carol Toranski self-referred for a scan after realising that, once women pass 70, they no longer receive automatic reminders, even if they have a history of the disease.
Toranski had a mastectomy after the cancer was found and is now waiting to see if she needs more treatment. But after speaking to other women, she discovered many had no idea that the responsibility to request a scan every three years falls on them once they turn 70. She started a petition calling on the NHS to proactively contact women in their 70s to let them know they can self-refer.
"Cancer doesn't stop when you're 70 and neither should mammograms," she said. The petition has gathered more than 76,000 signatures and needs 100,000 to be considered for a formal debate in Parliament.
The NHS says the policy is based on a balance of risk and benefit. As women get older, they are more likely to die with breast cancer than from it, and treatment may cause harm without extending life. But Toranski, who is 79 and otherwise healthy, argues that many women would benefit from earlier detection. She has received messages from women who say they would not be terminal if they had been screened earlier.
Women over 70 are still entitled to free mammograms on the NHS, but they must contact their local breast screening unit directly. They do not need to go through a GP. Toranski's message is simple: "People need to know it actually saves lives."
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| A petition on breast screening has more than 76,000 signatures and needs 100,000 for a parliamentary debate. | |
| The NHS justifies the age limit for breast screening by weighing risk versus benefit for older women. | |
| Women over 70 are not automatically invited for mammograms but can self-refer. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report centres on Carol Toranski's personal story and her campaign, with a strong practical focus on how women over 70 can self-refer. It includes direct appeals to viewers to sign the petition and ends with clear instructions on how to request a mammogram. The tone is sympathetic and action-oriented, highlighting the perceived gap in NHS communication.
- “Cancer doesn't stop when you're 70 and neither should mammograms.”
- “People need to know it actually saves lives. I have messages from people saying had I known I wouldn't be terminal.”
- “If you are over 70 and want to request a free mammogram, you need to find your local screening unit.”
Broadcast Timeline
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