Breast cancer screening ‘has little impact’
New research suggests breast cancer screening is not having a major impact on falling death rates, but the claim is disputed by the NHS.
Experts compared data from three pairs of european countries who had implemented screening programmes at different times and found the countries within each pair experienced a similar fall in death rates.
The researchers suggested better treatments and improving health systems were more likely to have contributed to falling death rates than screening.
Northern Ireland was compared with the Republic of Ireland, while the Netherlands was compared with Belgium and Belgium’s region of Flanders, and Sweden with Norway. Each pair had a gap of between 10 and 15 years for installing widespread screening programmes.
From 1989 to 2006, deaths from breast cancer decreased by 29% in Northern Ireland and by 26% in the Republic of Ireland, according to the study, published in the British Medical Journal.
Deaths also fell by 25% in the Netherlands and by 20% in Belgium and 25% in Flanders. Sweden deaths were down 16% compared to 24% in Norway.
The researchers, who analysed data on deaths from the World Health Organisation database, concluded: “Countries of each pair had similar healthcare services and prevalence of risk factors for breast cancer mortality but differing implementation of mammography screening, with a gap of about 10 to 15 years.
But Breast Cancer Care’s clinical nurse specialist, Rachel Rawson, said: “Though this retrospective study comparing breast cancer mortality using three country pairs is interesting it may not take into account all of the factors that might have influenced the results.”
Professor Julietta Patnick, director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said in England the best available evidence shows that women aged 50 to 69 who are regularly screened are less likely to die from breast cancer.
She added: “The World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that there is a 35% reduction in mortality from breast cancer among screened women aged 50- to 69-years-old; and in England, the independent Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening estimates breast screening saves 1,400 lives each year.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: “According to the vast majority of experts, the evidence shows that breast screening reduces deaths from breast cancer.
“The NHS Breast Screening programme is based on the best available evidence and in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.
“Experts estimate that the NHS Breast Screening programme saves the lives of 1,400 women each year and we are extending it to ensure that every eligible woman should receive her first invitation by her 50th birthday.”