MORE than 22,000 women invited for potentially life saving breast cancer screening failed to attend their appointments, shock new figures show.

More than 71,000 women from across East Lancashire were asked to attend a breast scan to look out for early signs of cancer between 2013 to 2016.

But data from NHS England shows that during the three year period 32 per cent of women in Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley Pendle and Rossendale refused to respond to hospital bosses.

In total 22,581 women failed to turn up for their appointments leaving medics fearful scores of patients could have developed the disease and not even know about it.

Health campaigners said they were 'startled' by the figures and warned women 'it could save your life'.

In a bid to tackle the issues, health bosses have now launched a new campaign #bescreened, which urges women to protect themselves from cancer by attending their free NHS breast screening appointment.

Appointments take just 30 minutes once every three years and are automatically offered to women aged 50 to 70 registered with a GP. Some women under the age of 50, deemed to be at a high risk of developing the disease are also invited for screening.

Elizabeth Read, breast screening manager at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said that in certain areas of Lancashire, fewer than half of women aged 50 to 70 attend screenings every three years.

She said: "This is even though screening is free, fast and available locally.

“Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in East Lancashire, but it is also one of the most treatable, particularly when detected early.

“If breast cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage, it is estimated that after five years 99 out of 100 women diagnosed will be alive, so to #bescreened regularly and detected early is very important."

Free NHS breast screening aims to detect breast cancer at a very early stage.

Dr Neil Smith, who has been a GP in Oakenhurst medical practice in Blackburn for 22 years, said that for every 200 women screened every three years from ages 50 to 70, one fewer woman dies of breast cancer, compared with 200 women not screened.

Dr Smith, who is also the cancer lead for Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: "I would recommend that women attend their breast screening appointment and support their family and friends to do the same.

"It can help to diagnose problems sooner and prevent women from dying of breast cancer."

Mary Brennan, the founder and trustee of Barnoldswick and Earby Bosom Friends, who support people affected by cancer in the Pendle, Ribble Valley, and Craven areas, said she was 'startled' by the figures.

She said: "This is a very high-figure.

"I regularly speak to women at the group who are still here today as a result of being screened for breast cancer.

"It saves lives and I'd encourage any woman to attend a breast scan.

"I would say one of the biggest reasons for so many women not being screened for cancer is through fear of the outcome and diagnosis."

NHS breast screening is provided using modern equipment at Burnley General Teaching Hospital and on a state-of-the-art mobile screening unit.

It visits locations across East Lancashire to ensure women have convenient access to #bescreened.

Russ McLean, chairman of the East Lancashire Patient Voice Group, said: "I'd say women should go to these appointments. It could be a life-threatening condition.

"One of the worrying things is that people say it is invasive and intrusive but these days the staff work very hard to make all patients feel comfortable, so basically, just go, it could save your life."