Public support for lowering the routine NHS breast screening age from 50–40 is high, according to new survey findings released by cancer charity Walk the Walk ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Now in its second year, the charity’s annual survey gathered the views of more than 1,000 people on breast screening, checking the breasts or chest, and understanding of secondary breast cancer. Around 9 in 10 people (91%) support lowering the starting age for routine breast screening in the UK, while 90% specifically back Walk the Walk’s call for the Government to reduce it to 40.
Personal experience shapes opinion
Almost 8 in 10 people (79%) said they personally know someone who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50. More than 6 in 10 (61%) think screening should start before 40, while fewer than 2% believe the starting age should remain at 50.
Many unaware of diagnoses in younger women
More than half of respondents (53%) did not know that around 1 in 6 breast cancer diagnoses occur in women under 50 in the UK. Fewer than half (47%) knew this equates to roughly 10,000 cases a year.
Breast cancer remains the most common cause of death for women aged 35–49 in England and Wales, according to 2022 data from the Office for National Statistics.
Campaigners take case to Parliament
Walk the Walk, together with chemotherapy nurse and the charity’s Clinical Ambassador Gemma Reeves, has been campaigning to lower the NHS breast screening age to 40, taking the issue directly to Parliament through a Westminster Hall debate. The charity says the latest findings show strong public support for its campaign.
Reeves said: “Hearing that more than 90% of people questioned in Walk the Walk’s survey support lowering the routine screening age from 50–40 really underpins why I started my campaign in the first place. I see younger women being diagnosed with breast cancer on a daily basis, yet the screening age hasn’t been changed in 40 years, despite the fact that we have seen changes in other cancer screening programmes.”
“For me, it’s about finding breast cancer earlier, when treatment can potentially be less invasive and outcomes can be better. I trusted my gut when I started this campaign, and seeing such overwhelming public support tells me that people really do believe the screening age needs to change.”
Support for action on dense breast tissue
The survey also found strong public support for the NHS addressing screening gaps for women with dense breast tissue, for whom standard mammograms can be less reliable. The vast majority (95%) think the NHS should offer alternative or additional screening, such as MRI or ultrasound. Yet awareness remains low, with fewer than 4 in 10 (39%) knowing mammograms can be less reliable for dense breast tissue and just 29% aware that alternatives exist.
Gaps in checking habits and awareness
An increasing education gap is also evident. 7 in 10 (70%) respondents said they check their breasts or chest regularly, down from three quarters (75%) in 2025. Just 1 in 10 said they check regularly and have read up on how to do it properly. Awareness of secondary breast cancer remains low, with only half (51%) of respondents saying they have any understanding of it.
Walking remains most popular activity
Walking or hiking is the most popular regular activity among respondents, with 84% doing so weekly. Walk the Walk champions walking as a simple way to support health and reduce the risk of preventable cancers. Through its flagship MoonWalk events, campaigning work, and funding of cancer research, the charity encourages people to walk with purpose while raising awareness and funds for cancer prevention and care.