TWO Gazette readers have issued an impassioned plea, urging local women to attend breast screening appointments.

They spoke out following the news that 261 women did not attend their appointments at the NHS Mobile Screening Centre in Kingsbridge in October and November.

One reader from West Alvington said: 'You literally missed the chance of a lifetime. I went. I had no pains. No worries. No lumps (as far as I knew).

'But the machine found a tumour. After a blood test further scans and a biopsy, the tumour was removed last week at Derriford Hospital.

'The staff surgeons, doctors and nurses were truly amazing, so kind and reassuring. The operation was uncomfortable but it did not hurt, I didn't even need any painkillers afterwards.

'I'm going back on Wednesday for the results of tests done on the tumour. Wish me luck. Whichever way it goes from here on, I'm confident it's been caught in the early stages and that, ladies, is the important thing.

'No doubt I'm not the only one to have had this experience and have been lucky enough to have found a lump in the early stages at this free service.

'I wonder how many of that 261 will leave it too late and die from breast cancer as my mother did.

'She left a husband and four children, two in their teens and two under 12s.

'The effects of her death have left scars that have lasted a lifetime.

'She was only 45 years old. She never saw her grandchildren. She died in pain.

'This was a long time ago and we still miss her, every birthday, every Christmas, every time we want to show her something one of the grandchildren has done.

'So the message is the same – please, please, please don't put your family or the people you love through this awful, wicked, evil thing.

'Go and make an appointment, it's free, it's painless and it's the very best present you can ever give them or yourself – the gift of your life time.'

The sentiment was echoed by reader Linda Rubin, from Kingsbridge, who said: 'I am stunned to read that 261 women did not turn up to the NHS Mobile Screening Centre in Kingsbridge for their appointment.

'Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women, with statistics stating that their lifetime risk is that one in eight women will develop breast cancer.

'Using these statistics, there could be more than 32 women locally with an undetected problem.

'The NHS provide the town with this wonderful facility (free of charge) on our doorstep.

'It is beyond belief that so many women do not make the effort to attend what could be a lifesaver.

'If we do not use these facilities provided by the NHS the NHS may think it not worthwhile to provide it.

'Due to routine screening over eight years ago, I had no symptoms, no detectable lump and yet I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

'The early discovery and treatment no doubt saved my life.'

The mobile breast screening unit comes to Kingsbridge once every three years for four months and sees women registered at Norton Brook Medical Centre in Kingsbridge, Modbury Health Centre, Redfern Health Centre in Salcombe and Chillington Health Centres.