A Cancer Research UK report has produced the strongest evidence yet that organized breast screening programs save lives.

The study, published in the journal Lancet, shows breast cancer deaths dropped by almost half after an organized screening program was introduced. The report also gives definitive evidence, for the first time, that screening younger women (40-49) significantly reduces mortality. Scientists studied more than 200,000 Swedish women aged between 20 and 69. They compared the numbers of women who died from breast cancer in the pre-screening period with those who died after screening was introduced.

In the 40-69 age group, breast cancer mortality was reduced by 44 percent in those women who had screening. For women who were not screened during the second period, the death rate reduction was just 16 percent.

Among women aged between 40-49, the reduction in mortality was 48 percent in those who were screened against 19 percent among those who were not.

Stephen Duffy, Cancer Research UK's Professor of Cancer Screening, says: "This produces very strong evidence that screening women for breast cancer, along with other improvements in breast cancer care, can almost halve the number of women who might otherwise die from the disease.

SOURCES:
Lancet, April 26, 2003
Cancer Research UK (http://www.cancerresearchuk.org)