Thanet nurse calls to lower mammogram age after seeing more young cancer patients
Gemma Reeves has launched a petition aiming to save lives through earlier cancer detection
A chemotherapy nurse from Kent is campaigning to lower the age for routine mammograms from 50 to 40 as she witnesses an increase in young women being treated for breast cancer.
Gemma Reeves, who has worked at a hospital in Kent for eight years, has launched a petition urging Parliament to change existing rules so mammograms are offered earlier, and make screenings annual instead of every three years.
She launched the petition after noticing a rise in cancer diagnoses among her younger patients.
So far, it has gathered over 16,000 signatures.
"I just thought why are we not lowering the mammogram age?" Gemma said. "Early detection is key in saving lives. The current rules haven’t been updated in decades."
Government petitions must reach 10,000 signatures to trigger a response and 100,000 signatures to be eligible for debate in Parliament.
“I don’t want this to fail. It could change so many people's lives” Gemma said.
"When detected early, treatments can be less invasive—like a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy," she said.
"Later diagnosis often requires more aggressive treatments, which can be life-changing and much more costly to the NHS."
Some other countries, like the United States and Australia, already offer annual screenings.
"Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It turns people’s lives upside-down," she said, describing how young families struggle to balance life-changing treatments like chemotherapy with other responsibilities.
Her efforts have also included contacting numerous public figures and organisations to raise awareness. Gemma added, "I just hope someone influential notices the petition and helps it gain further traction because I can’t do it alone."
How to support Gemma’s campaign
Gemma is active in sharing her story on social media.
Those interested can support by signing the petition on the official Parliament petitions website, or found https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/742179.