‘If in doubt, check it out’: Joanne’s plea to women across Tameside

A Stalybridge woman who has raised tens of thousands of pounds for cancer charities is urging others not to ignore their breast screening invitations, after her own diagnosis came completely out of the blue.

Joanne Hinds, 62, was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2021 after attending a routine mammogram appointment at the height of the COVID pandemic. She had no symptoms and hadn’t felt a lump, but the screening picked up something that could easily have gone unnoticed.

“I never for one moment thought there was anything wrong,” said Joanne. “I will be forever grateful that I went to that appointment. It saved my life.”

Joanne, who works for Tameside Council’s Shared Lives Team at Copley, has been a long-time volunteer at Willow Wood Hospice, where she and her husband Chris have helped raise an incredible £110,000 over the years through coffee mornings, quiz nights and music events.

A member of Bosom Buddies, a local support group for people affected by breast cancer, Joanne also helped produce a ‘Calendar Girls’-style fundraiser earlier this year which brought in more than £5,500 for Macmillan Tameside and Prevent Breast Cancer.

Her personal journey inspired her to write a book, Mrs H’s Storm in a D Cup, praised for its honesty, humour and comfort to others going through treatment. All proceeds from the book have been donated to local charities including Mossley Cancer Committee, Prevent Breast Cancer, Willow Wood Hospice, and the Macmillan Unit at Tameside Hospital.

Joanne’s message is simple: “If you get that letter inviting you for a mammogram, don’t put it in the ‘too hard to do’ drawer. My mantra is: if in doubt, check it out.”

Breast screening is offered every three years to women aged 50 to 71 who are registered with a GP as female. It uses X-rays, called mammograms, to detect cancers that are too small to see or feel. The process takes just a few minutes and is carried out by specialist female staff. Screening saves around 1,300 lives in the UK every year.

Cllr Taf Sharif, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Population Health and Wellbeing, praised Joanne’s courage and commitment: “Jo isn’t just an inspiration, she’s a friend whose courage and compassion have touched so many lives. Her story is a powerful reminder of why breast screening matters. It’s quick, it’s free, and it saves lives. We’re incredibly proud of the work she’s done to raise awareness and support others, and we urge everyone who’s eligible to attend their appointment when invited.”

Joanne added: “I’ve met so many women who say my book helped ease their anxiety. I just want more people to know how important it is to go. It’s quick, it’s free, and it could save your life.”

For more information about breast screening and what to expect, visit www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram.