Julietta, 51, whose expertise is sought nationally and internationally, was born and schooled in Whitefield.

She has been National Coordinator/Director of the NHS Breast Screening Programme since 1990 and head of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme since 1994.

As director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes she is also overseeing the piloting of bowel cancer screening in England and is now responsible for the prostate cancer risk management programme.

She endures a gruelling schedule, lecturing all over the country and is invited to share good practice throughout Europe, the States and Australia.

Julietta, nee Freeman, was raised in Sunningdale Avenue, Whitefield. "At the time, the area was still fields," she recalls.

Her parents Shirley and Barry Freeman now live in London. Her paternal grandparents, Harry and Goga Freedman (they retained the 'd'), resided in Old Hall Road, Salford and maternal grandparents Joe and Jenny Samuels lived in Ravensway, Prestwich.

Joe ran Samuels the butcher in Bury Old Road, Prestwich.

She attended Stand Grammar School for Girls in Whitefield, now Philip's High School.

A former schoolfriend, Lynne Simon, nee Parry, remembers Julietta as a very capable and bright pupil. Julietta recalls: "I was one of only two girls who studied Latin A-Level and I think I was the only one who passed."

This interest in classics led Julietta to study ancient history and classical civilisation at Sheffield University.

She met her husband, Michael Patnick, at university. She started her career as a Health Service planner in his home city, Sheffield.

Shortly after the Breast Screening Programme was introduced in 1987, Julietta became involved in the establishment of the programme in the Trent Health Region.

Julietta recalls: "At the start this was just another project. I had no idea it would go national and I would proceed to be involved in breast, bowel, prostate and cervical cancer screening nationally."

She added: "Over 40,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year. Breast screening plays a valuable role in helping to detect the disease and since the introduction of the NHS Breast Screening Programme in 1988, over 16 million women in the UK have been screened by the programme and more than 100,000 cancers have been detected."

Women aged between 50 and 70 are invited to be tested every three years.

She says: "Research has shown that breast screening is most effective in post-menopausal women, the age group most at risk of cancer."

She explains: "The high priority is to prevent illness rather than wait until it has occurred. It is government policy to avoid cancer."

She reiterates the government's message of keeping to a sensible weight, exercising regularly and eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to keep cancer at bay.

But she is realistic enough to say: "We all do things we know we shouldn't. We are all guilty!"

Julietta reiterated that Jewish women of Ashkenazi descent who have a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer should consult their doctor to see if they need screening at an earlier age.

Ashkenazi Jewish women who carry the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 genetic mutation have a 'predisposition' to breast and ovarian cancer according to Julietta.

She says: "One in a hundred Ashkenazi Jewish women will have one of the mutations.

"If you have a mother, sister, daughter or aunt who died of breast or ovarian cancer at an early age it could suggest a genetic mutation which predisposes to cancer."

But she cautions: "Cancer is a disease of old age and having a grandmother who died of cancer at an old age does not mean you need a genetic test for cancer.

"Having a close relative who died of cancer at an early age puts you at greater risk." Despite the obvious benefits, one in four women nationally does not accept their invitation for breast screening.

Even though some of the orthodox Jewish women in Salford did not take up the MMR triple vaccine for their children, Julietta reports that the director of the Gateshead NHS Breast Screening Service said that orthodox Jewish women were "assiduous" about breast screening.

She said areas of social deprivation, such as Salford, had "poor acceptance" of screening but she did not have a breakdown of Jewish use of the service in the area.

Prostate cancer is very common in men but screening for the disease has not yet been shown to be of "proven benefit".

Julietta advises men to see their GP if they have any symptoms.

She adds: "Prostate cancer is called an indolent cancer as it can sit there for many years without doing any harm. You can die with it or from it.

"But it is hard to tell which are the tigers and which are the pussycats!"

Always at the forefront of the game, she is now involved with ovarian and lung cancer screening.

She says bowel cancer screening for the over-60's is her new baby. At present, patients in Bury and Bolton are being sent the kit and she hopes to introduce it to Manchester in the next few months.

She says: "Early bowel cancer is easily cured but if it is diagnosed late it is unpleasant and fatal."

Over the past 20 years breast screening has saved thousands of lives. Julietta hopes bowel cancer screening will do the same.

In 2005 Julietta was made CBE for services to the NHS. She was recently appointed a visiting professor at Oxford University.

Her son Alexander, 24, now lives in Salford after having studied at Manchester University. Daughter, Hannah, 22, recently graduated in Manchester and plans to live in London.

She says she works too hard to have much time for hobbies. But she jokes: "I am looking forward to a long and happy retirement!"