Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry has backed a Whittington drive to raise awareness of breast cancer screening, after visiting the hospital for her own appointment.

The Archway hospital offers breast screening to all women over 50 in order to spot signs of cancer at an early stage.

Ms Thornberry said: “Little is known about how to prevent breast cancer, but the earlier it is found the better the chance for successful treatment. This is why breast screening is so important and I would encourage all women to make sure they attend a screening session. No matter how busy you are, you should always make time.”

Ahead of October’s breast cancer awareness month, Whittington Health chief executive Siobhan Harrington said: “About one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and there is a good chance of recovery if detected in its early stages.

“We’d like to thank Emily for her support in helping to raise awareness of screening for this life threatening disease.”