Increase breast cancer screening success rates as study suggests program is less likely to “overdiagnose.”
- Two hospitals found that only 3.7 percent are overdiagnosed with breast cancer
- 5 to 30 percent of tumors go unnoticed, so patients are treated unnecessarily
- In the UK there are 56,000 breast cancer diagnoses and 11,500 deaths each year
- It reconfirms that the benefits of breast cancer screening outweigh the risks
That NHS A large study suggests that a breast screening program is less likely to overdiagnose cancer than previously thought.
Overdiagnosis occurs when a person has a tumor but it is growing so slowly that it would not have caused symptoms.
When it’s discovered, there’s no way to know if it’s fast-growing or deadly, so women are often offered grueling treatment.
The Queen Mary University of London and King’s College London study reconfirms that the potential benefits of breast cancer screening outweigh the risks
It was thought that between 5 and 30 percent of tumors identified in this way would have gone unnoticed, meaning patients might have been subjected to unnecessary therapy. The quotas mean some don’t attend screenings, which are offered every three years between the ages of 50 and 71.
However, experts from Queen Mary University of London and King’s College London found that the true number of overdiagnosed breast cancers is only 3.7 percent.
The study, published in the journal Cancer Medicine, concluded that the “benefits of breast cancer screening outweigh the risks.”
The researcher looked at 57,493 cases of breast cancer in women who attended screening in 2010 and 2011 and compared them to more than 100,000 women who did not attend screening.
Overdiagnosis was calculated as the excess of cancers diagnosed in the screening group compared to those who did not attend their screening appointments.
The authors concluded: “Our results showed little or no overdiagnosis and it is reasonable to conclude that, at its worst, the NHS breast screening program is associated with modest overdiagnosis of breast cancer.”
Joint study leader Stephen Duffy, Professor of Cancer Screening at Queen Mary University of London, said: “These results provide some reassurance that participation in the NHS breast screening program carries a low risk of overdiagnosed breast cancer.
“Together with the results of our previous study on the effect of screening on breast cancer mortality, this suggests that the benefit of screening in preventing breast cancer deaths outweighs the low risk of overdiagnosis.” There are around 56,000 breast cancer diagnoses and 11,500 deaths from the disease in the UK each year. It is the most common type of cancer in women.
There are around 56,000 breast cancer diagnoses and 11,500 deaths from the disease in the UK each year
Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK said: “Breast cancer screening plays an important role in the early detection of breast cancer. Screening has the potential benefit of saving lives, but it is not without risks such as overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
“This study reconfirms that the potential benefits of breast cancer screening outweigh the risks and reports that overdiagnosis may be lower than we previously thought.
“When you receive an invitation for breast cancer screening, it is important to read the information and make the right decision for you.
“Remember that screening is for people without symptoms.
“Even if you don’t need to be examined at a specific time or in a specific way, contact your GP if you notice any unusual changes in your breasts. If you’re having trouble getting an appointment, keep trying.”
