BREAST screening is an essential tool in the fight against breast cancer, and – during Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a mobile breast screening unit has is announced it will be calling Lakeside regional shopping centre in West Thurrock its home for the next year and a half.

It means women from across the borough will now have less of a journey with the unit in an easy-to-access central location with free parking.

The service is run by South Essex Breast Screening Service - part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Breast Screening Programme Manager, Victoria Prendergast, explained how breast screening in the community plays a really important role as it helps identify breast cancer early.

She said: "We're delighted to be welcoming women back to our brand new unit in this great new location. This is a fantastic location, as it's so public, creates a buzz and raises awareness for all the people visiting Lakeside.

"It raises important questions and gets women talking. Without mobile units such as this, women in this area would need to travel to Southend Hospital for their screening."

Women aged between 50 and 71 are routinely invited every three years to book an appointment for their breast screening (mammogram). Women over the age of 71 can continue to have breast screening every three years by self-referring themselves into the service.

Victoria added: "The earlier the condition is found, the better the chances of surviving it."

The unit, which was purchased this year, features a state-of-the-art mammogram machine and the site has already recorded a great attendance since opening, with more than 40 women being seen each day, five days a week.

Howard Oldstein, centre director at Lakeside, said: "It's great to be able to offer the breast screening service here and wonderful to see there has been a lot of interest from shoppers.

"If we have helped encourage just one person to find out more information about breast cancer and screening, then it has all been worthwhile."

Other mobile units in south Essex include Warrior Square car park in Southend, Robert Frew Medical Centre car park in Wickford and a static site Nightingale Centre based at Southend Hospital.