The Welsh government has been urged to increase awareness and improve the convenience of breast cancer screenings to help identify hundreds of new diagnoses.
Breast Cancer Now has called on the government to support the NHS programme Breast Test Wales to develop a campaign after the uptake for screening fell below the minimum standard of 70%.
A health expert said the low figure was part of a global issue of a lack of trust in vaccines, urging people to believe health professionals and not what they read on social media.
The Welsh government said plans to raise awareness and address barriers would be “delivered later this year”.
Figures from Breast Test Wales suggest that an uptake of 80% would mean more than 15,000 extra people would be screened, leading to a further 154 breast cancers being caught in Wales.
“Crucially, this would have led to more women being given the best chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage when survival rates are highest,” it said.
Melanie Sturtevant, Breast Cancer Now’s associate director of policy, said there was low awareness about why screenings were so important.
“It can be uncomfortable for some women, but what we would say is that it’s quick,” she told BBC Radio Wales.
She urged the Welsh government to facilitate an awareness campaign and make appointments more convenient, including allowing for them to be booked online.
Dr Hilary Williams, a consultant in medical oncology at Cardiff’s Velindre Cancer Centre, said the low uptake was part of a global trend of distrust towards vaccines.
“It’s very, very safe and I would say don’t listen to all that nonsense out there on social media.
“Please believe trusted professionals on this one,” she said, adding that a screening is “one of the most important things you can do for your health”.
The clinical vice-president of the Royal College of Physicians added that small cancers picked up by screenings “can be treated very simply”, usually through a minor operation or radiotherapy.
“And you’ll just crack on with the rest of your life.”
Dr Sharon Hillier, director of the screening division at Public Health Wales, said the organisation was “committed to improving the uptake”.
“Finding and treating breast cancer early gives the best chance of survival,” she said, adding that screening is offered at mobile clinics and at screening centres within local communities.
“All those eligible are invited for screening every three years and we are working to encourage more women to attend their offered screening appointment,” she said.
The Welsh government said it was “absolutely focused on working with the NHS to improve delivery of cancer services”.
“We have invested tens of millions of pounds in new cancer facilities, equipment, digital systems, workforce training, treatments, screening, and diagnostic services.
“Public Health Wales is developing targeted breast screening engagement projects aimed at raising awareness of screening and addressing barriers to attendance. These are expected to be delivered later this year.”
