UP to 270 women may have had their lives shortened as a result of an NHS error which saw thousands miss out on invitations to routine breast screenings.
With an independent inquiry on the way we've collected all the information you need to know about the breast screening error.
What happened in the NHS breast screening error?
The breast screening error was caused by a glitch in a computer system that routinely invites women aged 50 to 70 for a mammogram every three years.
The system error from 2009 caused 450,000 women aged 70 to 79 to be missed off invites to screenings, potentially causing them to miss life saving intervention.
It has been promised that the women invited for a mammogram to make up for missed screenings will have a maximum waiting time of up to six months.
The breast screening system was set up in 1988 and this is the first time it is known to have gone wrong.
Jeremy Hunt has apologised to the families and called for an independent inquiry to look into the breast screening error.
How many cancer deaths have been linked to it?
It is thought 270 women in the UK may have died early as a result of not being invited to a breast cancer screening.
Jeremy Hunt announced the figures in the Commons when he told Parliament of the computer error.
The figures he gave suggest the number of women whose lives were shortened as a result was estimated to be between 135 and 270.
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What does the recall letter say?
The original letter would have offered women the last of their regular screenings for breast cancer.
But it was never sent, which could have put them at risk as the opportunity to spot the disease would have been missed.
309,000 women who were part of the affected group are believed to still be alive.
They will now receive a recall letter by the end of May inviting them for a check-up.
Those over the age of 72 will be given access to a helpline to help them decide if a screening is appropriate for them.
Why is breast screening offered?
Breast cancer screening is offered every three years to women aged between 50 and 70 as regular checks can help catch breast cancer early.
The screening involves an X-ray known as a mammogram which takes two X-rays of each breast.
When being X-rayed each breast needs to be placed in the right position and is then held in place between two clear plates by the machine.
Mammograms are able to detect early signs of cancer when they're too small to see or feel and results are given within two weeks of the appointment.
By finding cancer symptoms early the NHS is able to reduce the likelihood of needing a mastectomy or chemotherapy.
It also increases the chances of survival for women with breast cancer and survival rates in the UK have doubled in the last 40 years.
The screenings see around one in 25 women called back for an assessment and one in four of those called back are diagnosed with breast cancer.
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