Experts have defended the value of breast screening in a series of studies published today.
Some recent research has questioned the effectiveness of public breast cancer screening campaigns. But now Professor Stephen Duffy of Queen Mary, University of London, UK, states clearly that it is worth going for screening.
He says a new study shows that two deaths are prevented for every woman "overdiagnosed" by breast screening. Over-diagnosis is when a woman is unnecessarily treated for cancer.
Professor Duffy says: "Unfortunately, we haven’t yet got a flawless screening test, and some cases that are picked up wouldn’t have needed treatment. But for every case like this, screening saves two women who would have otherwise died from breast cancer.
"If a tumour is detected through screening it is important to consider a range of options before treatment begins. Women should be given the opportunity to understand the implication of their screening results and discuss their treatment options with a specialist."
Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK commented: "The National Breast Screening Programme saves lives, so we encourage women to go when invited. All women should have access to high quality information and advice to help them make decisions that are appropriate to their individual condition.
"It is standard practice to have these discussions which help women make the choice that’s right for them, so over-diagnosis need not be a reason to feel worried about going for screening.
"As well as attending screening, we would encourage all women to be breast aware and to go to their doctor if they notice any unusual changes to their breasts."
Duffy, S. W. et al. Absolute Numbers of Lives Saved and Overdiagnosis in Breast Cancer Screening, from a Randomised Trial and from the Breast Screening Programme in England. Journal of Medical Screening, Vol. 17, March 2010, pp. 25-30.
Leave a Reply