Healthy living
Body matters
Breast Cancer screening success doubles in ten years
The NHS breast cancer screening programme now detects twice as many double cancer cases as it did a decade ago, according to figures just out from The NHS Information Centre
This is good news for women as early detection significantly improves the chances of making a full recovery – every year early diagnosis saves an estimated 1,400 lives in England.
The figures reveal that the screening programme detected 14,110 cases in 2007-2008, more than double the 6,914 cases picked up in 1997-1998. Nearly 80 per cent of the cancers found were invasive - the most serious type - and over half of these would not have been detectable by hand.
'The report highlights the success of the programme in picking up thousands of cases of breast cancer at an earlier stage than they would have been otherwise,' says Tim Straughan, chief executive of the NHS Information Centre. 'Undoubtedly, the programme is saving an increasing number of women's lives not only as a result of improved coverage but also as a result of its extension to include older women.'
The programme, established in 1988, initially covered all women aged 50 to 64, inviting them to have a mammogram every three years. It was extended in 2004 to include women aged 65-70 years.
The Cancer Reform Strategy, published in December 2007, is committed to further expanding the programme to women aged 47 to 73 by 2012. Straughan believes that these latest figures suggest that this will help pick up even more cancers at an earlier stage.
'This latest data confirms the crucial role that the NHS breast screening service plays in reducing deaths from breast cancer in the UK,' said Olivia Marks-Woldman, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Breast Cancer Care.
'Early detection is vital as it can improve treatment options and lead to a more successful outcome. It is vital that women accept invitations to regular screening, and that those beyond the programme's age range take up their right to request regular mammograms.'
The figures also reveal that women who live in London are the least likely to go for screening. Only about 60 per cent of women in the capital took up their invitation to be screened compared with nearly 80 per cent for other parts of England.
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
