As another breast cancer awareness month passes, many of us ask ourselves what we can do to make things better.

'Pink October’ helps focus our minds, and some of the actions we take can include giving more to dedicated charities, volunteering or supporting those we know who have been afflicted by the disease.

But in Glasgow especially, there is something else women can do to make a difference.

Look out for ourselves by getting screened.

The city has the poorest uptake of breast cancer screening in Scotland by some distance.

All women between 50 and 70 are invited every three years for these vital checks, but within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde only 72.8 per cent attend.

That’s well below the national average, and is a poor performance in comparison both to our neighbours here in the west of Scotland, and other Scottish cities.

Many I’ve spoken to, from all ages and backgrounds, point out they don’t see why they should go for screening if they don’t have any concerns.

The statistics tell us why.

Last year, more than 200,000 women attended to be checked by medics, and around 8000 were called back after something suspicious was found.

Of those, 1894 were found to have breast cancer.

On a population ratio basis, we can assume around one in five of those women lived in or around Glasgow.

That equates to hundreds of mothers, daughters, wives and sisters who – had it not been for the cancer screening programme – may have lived with these undiagnosed cancers, possibly until it was too late.

The situation with screening for cervical cancer is equally grim.

The Scottish Government has been slow in releasing last year’s statistics, but if we look at the data for 2021/22, we can see that less than two-thirds of women attended for screening.

I understand that such procedures can seem daunting, intimidating and uncomfortable, but for so many thousands of women in Glasgow to opt out of a recommended medical appointment is hugely worrying.

Again, Glasgow performed worse than any other part of the country on this measure.

It would be easy for politicians in opposition to blame the Scottish Government for these poor uptake rates.

But in reality, we all need to work together to drive the statistics up.

We must realise that public awareness campaigns are vital on this front.

Many years ago, when UK celebrity Jade Goody tragically died at the age of just 27 from cervical cancer, screening rates rose sharply, with the subject firmly in the public eye.

It shows us that, when the issue is in people’s minds, the uptake will increase.

More flexibility should be built into the system too. Many women have told me over the years that appointments have been offered at awkward places and times, clashing with work or childcare commitments, and that had been enough to put them off going.

And, yes, we must also accept there’s an issue of personal responsibility here too.

It’s natural for people to shy away from sensitive medical appointments, and clearly more encouragement is required to persuade people of the importance of these tests.

It’s a vital matter the whole year round.

But if additional motivation for the good women of Glasgow is required, Pink October should provide exactly that.