After examining the medical history of more than 1,60,000 women, researchers at Queen Mary University of London, have found that breast screening of women younger than 50-year-old, could save many lives. Regular Breast screening women aged 40-49 may also save women from overdiagnosis, the study, published by the researchers in The Lancet Oncology, has found.
When it comes to breast cancer screening programme, medical fraternity all over the world is divided about right age. In many countries, including Britain, women aged 50-70 are offered mammography every three years.
However, many experts have voiced their concerns about such programme as it is offered at relatively older age.
Between 1990 and 1997, the UK Breast Screening Age Trial randomised more than 160,000 UK women aged 39-41 to receive either annual mammography, or the usual NHS breast screening which commences at age 50. The primary outcome was mortality from breast cancers diagnosed prior to first NHS breast screen.
In the study, researchers have presented 23-year follow-up results of the trial, and found that screening women aged 40-49 led to a substantial and significant 25 per cent reduction in breast cancer mortality in the first ten years.
The total years of life saved from breast cancer in the intervention group was estimated as 620, corresponding to 11.5 years saved per 1,000 women invited to earlier screening.
The results also suggest at worst modest overdiagnosis in this age group, and that any overdiagnosed cancers would otherwise be diagnosed at NHS screening from 50 years of age. Therefore, screening in the age group of 40-49 years does not appear to add to overdiagnosed cases from screening at age 50 years and older.
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Lead researcher Professor Stephen Duffy from Queen Mary University of London said: “This is a very long term follow-up of a study which confirms that screening in women under 50 can save lives. The benefit is seen mostly in the first ten years, but the reduction in mortality persists in the long term at about one life saved per thousand women screened.
According to American Cancer Society, Finding breast cancer early and getting state-of-the-art cancer treatment are the most important strategies to prevent deaths from breast cancer.
It suggests that the goal of screening tests for breast cancer should be to find it before it causes symptoms (like a lump that can be felt).
Here are the screening recommendations by American Cancer Society:
- Women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.
- Women 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
- Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.
- All women should understand what to expect when getting a mammogram for breast cancer screening – what the test can and cannot do.