LONDON —
Breast cancer screening for women over 50 saves lives, an independent panel in Britain has concluded, confirming findings in U.S. and other studies.
But that screening comes with a cost: The review found that for every life saved, roughly three other women were overdiagnosed, meaning they were unnecessarily treated for a cancer that would never have threatened their lives.
The expert panel was commissioned by Cancer Research U.K. and Britain’s department of health and analyzed evidence from 11 trials in Canada, Sweden, the U.K. and the U.S.
In Britain, mammograms are usually offered to women aged 50 to 70 every three years as part of the state-funded breast cancer screening program.
Scientists said the British program saves about 1,300 women every year from dying of breast cancer while about 4,000 women are overdiagnosed. By that term, experts mean women treated for cancers that grow too slowly to ever put their lives at risk.
This is different from another screening problem: False alarms, which occur when suspicious mammograms lead to biopsies and follow-up tests to rule out cancers that were not present. The study did not look at the false alarm rate.
“It’s clear that screening saves lives,” said Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research U.K. “But some cancers will be treated that would never have caused any harm and unfortunately, we can’t yet tell which cancers are harmful and which are not.”
Each year, more than 300,000 women aged 50 to 52 are offered a mammogram through the British program. During the next 20 years of screening every three years, 1 percent of them will get unnecessary treatment such as chemotherapy, surgery or radiation for a breast cancer that wouldn’t ever be dangerous. The review was published online Tuesday in the Lancet journal.
Some critics said the review was a step in the right direction.
“Cancer charities and public health authorities have been misleading women for the past two decades by giving too rosy a picture of the benefits,” said Karsten Jorgensen, a researcher at the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen who has previously published papers on overdiagnosis.
“It’s important they have at least acknowledged screening causes substantial harms,” he said, adding that countries should now re-evaluate their own breast cancer programs.
In the U.S., a government-appointed task force of experts recommends women at average risk of cancer get mammograms every two years starting at age 50. But the American Cancer Society and other groups advise women to get annual mammograms starting at age 40.
In recent years, the British breast screening program has been slammed for focusing on the benefits of mammograms and downplaying the risks.
Maggie Wilcox, a breast cancer survivor and member of the expert panel, said the current information on mammograms given to British women was inadequate.
“I went into (screening) blindly without knowing about the possibility of overdiagnosis,” said Wilcox, 70, who had a mastectomy several years ago. “I just thought, ‘it’s good for you, so you do it.’ ”
Knowing what she knows now about the problem of overtreatment, Wilcox says she still would have chosen to get screened. “But I would have wanted to know enough to make an informed choice for myself.”
Breast Cancer
Mammograms save lives, but have weakness
- Breast Cancer
-
-
Mammograms save lives, but have weakness
Breast cancer screening for women over 50 saves lives, an independent panel in Britain has concluded, confirming findings in U.S. and other studies.
But that screening comes with a cost: The review found that for every life saved, roughly three other women were overdiagnosed, meaning they were unnecessarily treated for a cancer that would never have threatened their lives. -
Bout with breast cancer changes priorities for Portage survivor
Too many people live their lives and never stop to appreciate the simple things – a bonus summer day during a non-summer season, a tiny little hand resting in the grip of adult fingers, or the sweet sound of laughter from family and friends.
-
‘It was a miracle’: Woman credits God when cancer discovered during unrelated test
Erma and Joe Cogan were ready to embrace their retirement in 2010.
The West Providence Township couple had purchased a camper and headed out on a three-month tour of the country. -
Love of family fuels mom’s fight
There was no place in Roxane Hogue’s life for cancer. As a wife, mother of four and career woman, she didn’t have time to engage in a battle against the life-threatening disease. But when her doctor told her she had breast cancer, time stopped.
-
Friends fight cancer together
Two longtime friends in Wilmore shared much throughout their lives, including battles with breast cancer.
-
Celebrating life: Event pays tribute to breast-cancer survivors
When Roxane Hogue learned she had breast cancer in November, she kept the news a secret.
Fearing talk would put undue stress on her four children, Hogue decided she’d rather fight it silently. -
Teacher vigilant after genetics lesson: Breast cancer can strike any family member
Teacher Marie Olshefski learned that heredity plays a major role in breast cancer prevention and detection.
-
Faith got woman through ordeal
The ache in Cathy Fleegle’s breast didn’t worry her much at first.
Sure, she thought about cancer. At 56, she’d had seven or eight biopsies and knew the risks. But she’d heard people say that cancer didn’t hurt, so she decided it must be something else. -
Survivor turns to inner strength
As a makeup artist and beautician, Melissa Lovejoy of Indiana enjoys helping women look their best.
But when breast cancer and its subsequent treatments left her bald, she didn’t much care. -
Annual screenings urged
Women in rural areas of Cambria and Somerset counties can get their annual mammograms close to home, and be confident they will have the latest technology read by experts in a premier radiology organization.
- More Breast Cancer Headlines
-
Mammograms save lives, but have weakness
Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident in Turkey
Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest
'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy?
Raw: Heavy Tornado Damage in Shawnee, Okla
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
