STARTING annual breast cancer screening at 40 could be the best way of reducing deaths, a study shows.
Women are currently offered free mammograms on the NHS every three years between the ages of 50 and 71 in Britain.
GettyStarting annual breast cancer screening at 40 could be the best way of reducing deaths, a study shows[/caption]
But US researchers found starting a decade earlier, extending for a further eight years and offering them more regularly had “a huge benefit”.
Professor Debra Monticciolo, of Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine in Hanover, New Hampshire, said shifting to earlier screening is the best way to spot the disease early.
She said: “There is an ongoing debate over the recommendations for breast cancer screening, specifically about when to start and the frequency of screening.
“This paper is important because it shows once again that there’s a tremendous increase in mortality benefit by screening annually between the ages of 40 and 79.
“Annual screening beginning at 40 and continuing to at least age 79 gives the highest mortality reduction, the most cancer deaths averted and the most years of life gained.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with around 55,000 women and 400 men diagnosed every year.
Around 11,500 women and 85 men die from the disease annually but the risk is far lower if the cancer is caught earlier.
The study, published in Radiology, looked at how different screening programs impacted survival rates.
They compared biennial screening of women aged 50 to 74, biennial screening from ages 40 to 74, annual screening from ages 40 to 74, and annual screening from ages 40 to 79.
Researchers looked at how these impacted mortality reduction, life years gained, breast cancer deaths averted.
They also looked at the possible risks, including benign, or unnecessary, biopsies and recall rates.
Annual screening from 40 to 79 reduced mortality by 41.7 per cent compared biennial screening from 50 to 74.
It’s just a better idea to shift to early detection, and that’s what screening does
Professor Debra Monticciolo
It reduced it by 30 per cent compared to biennial screening from ages 40 to 74, and 25.4 per cent compared to annual screening from ages 40 to 74.
Dr Monticciolo said: “The risks of screening are non-lethal and manageable for most women.
“But advanced breast cancer is often lethal. Breast cancer is easier to treat if it’s found earlier — we’re able to spare women extra surgeries and chemotherapy.
“It’s just a better idea to shift to early detection, and that’s what screening does.”
Nicola Smith, of Cancer Research UK, said: “The UK’s national screening programmes are effective tools in helping to spot cancer at an earlier stage. But no screening test is perfect.
“There is potential for false negatives or positives, or picking up cancers that wouldn’t cause any problems if they were never found.
“That’s why cancer screening is offered at ages when the benefits are biggest and the harms are smallest.
“This is an evidence-based process and new research is constantly being reviewed.”
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The first symptom of breast cancer that most women notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast.
Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it’s always best to have them checked by a doctor.
You should see a GP if you notice any of the following:
a new lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast that was not there before
a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
a discharge of fluid from either of your nipples
a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
a change in the look or feel of your skin, such as puckering or dimpling, a rash or redness
a rash (like eczema), crusting, scaly or itchy skin or redness on or around your nipple
a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Breast pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.
Source: The NHS