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A UK-wide case-control study conducted by Queen Mary University of London has shown that, despite significant improvements in diagnostic techniques and treatments, mammography screening continues to play an important role in lowering the risk of dying from breast cancer. .
The study of over 23,000 women showed a 37% reduction in breast cancer mortality for women screened at least once, corresponding to approximately nine breast cancer deaths prevented between the ages of 55 and 79 for every 1,000 women who attend screening between the ages of 50 and 69. The effect of screening under the NHS breast screening program in England is stronger and longer lasting in women aged 65 and over, but remains highly relevant for younger women.
Corresponding author Professor Stephen Duffy of Queen Mary University of London said, “The NHS Breast Screening Program is doing its job in reducing the risk of death from breast cancer. Our findings indicate that the benefit persists for 3-4 years in women under the age of 65, so the shift of the three-year interval would not be safe for these women.
“In the current Covid crisis, efforts to restore the breast screening program should continue apace. If difficult decisions about program delivery are made in the future, it may be appropriate to consider different screen intervals for different age groups. “.
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This research has received funding from the Department of Health and Social Care Policy Research Program and the NIHR.
Research paper:
Roberta Maroni, Nathalie J Massat, Dharmishta Parmar, Amanda Dibden, Jack Cuzick, Peter D Sasieni, Stephen W. Duffy. A case-control study to evaluate the impact of the breast screening program on mortality in England. Br J Cancer 2020.
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