A new study reveals that screening women for breast cancer under the age of 50 might actually do more harm than good, since of every 10,000 women screened, a small percentage is actually diagnosed and of these, eventually only 4 are completely cured.
In the bargain thousands of women face high levels of radiation which increase cancer risk, as well as suffer great emotional anxiety and add to government costs.
The study spanned 11 years and was funded by Cancer Research UK, results of which appear in the latest issue of Lancet. Lead author Dr Sue Moss of the Institute of Cancer Research and her team randomly sent invitations to 160,900 women aged 40 and above to receive mammography tests.
These women were offered a yearly mammography, as opposed to the usual once in three years that the NHS offers to women over 50. A total of 23 breast screening centers in England, Wales and Scotland were involved in this extensive study.
The researchers found that of the group aged 40 to 49 on whom the mammography was performed every year, only 4 cases of diagnosis and ultimate benefit appeared for every 10,000 women. Percentage wise, rates of breast cancer mortality was lesser by 17% in this group, compared to women over 50. However, this seems insignificant considering that older women are more likely to get cancer in any case than their younger counterparts.
Also, 23% of the women who were annually screened had at least one instance of a false positive report, compared to 12% in the group above 50 – leading to greater emotional stress.
However, as Dr. Moss herself acknowledges, a longer follow up of these women will lead to more conclusive results. There is need for greater in-depth analysis of pros and cons before any change in practice is recommended.
