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.”
Lifestyles
Mammograms save lives, but have weakness
- Lifestyles
-
-
For pastors, tattoos as symbols of faith
As the spiritual leader for two United Church of Christ congregations, the Rev. Richard Lindsay-Bignell found a way to combine his love of the ministry and his passion for art.
-
‘Kinky Boots’ struts off with most Tony Awards
The feel-good musical “Kinky Boots,” with songs by pop star and Broadway newcomer Cyndi Lauper, won six 2013 Tony Awards on Sunday, including best musical, best score and best leading man.
-
'Boy or Girl?' Gender a new challenge for schools
From the time they are born, we put our boys in blue beanies and our girls in pink ones. It's a societal norm, an expectation even, that you just are what you are born — a boy or a girl.
-
Space tourism industry seeks new heights
Are you looking for an experience that's fun, different and a little out of this world?
Do you have some extra cash to play with?
Maybe a suborbital flight to the edge of space is in the cards for you.
-
Pa. Turnpike to install electric car charging stations
The Pennsylvania Turnpike will take a "leap of faith" with its new electric-vehicle charging stations.
-
ACLU threatens legal action against Red Lion School District in transgender case
The American Civil Liberties Union has demanded Red Lion Area School District apologize to the transgender high school student involved in the prom king controversy.
-
Baseball, ice cream make winning combination
Baseball season is upon us. It's time to line the bases, break out the bats and cheer from the stands. For me, it signals the start of ice cream season. I scan the frozen food aisles of the local supermarkets, seeking the latest flavors for the upcoming warm months.
-
Learn to save on pet products, supplies
Families come in all shapes and sizes. But one thing that many families have in common is pets. With the average cost of owning a pet being $600 to $900 annually, I'm happy to say there are quite a few ways to save on those furry friends of ours.
-
Craft Beer Week featuring five 'collaboration brews'
Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, which runs April 19 through 27, encompasses dozens of events across the city and region. But perhaps the best way to get a good taste of it is to get a taste or tastes of the "collaboration brews" made for that week at five local craft breweries.
-
Sun-Times: Famed movie critic Roger Ebert dies
Roger Ebert, the most famous and most popular film reviewer of his time who become the first journalist to win a Pulitzer Prize for movie criticism and, on his long-running TV program, wielded the nation's most influential thumb, died Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. He was 70.
- More Lifestyles Headlines
-
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
