Published 15th September, 2000
Statement from NHS Cancer Screening Programmes
Julietta Patnick, National Coordinator of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes said:
"This is welcome evidence that proves that the breast screening programme saves women's lives in the UK. This research confirms that we are on the way to a 25 per cent reduction in mortality from breast cancer, and we are confident that we will reach our target. Indeed, we are now detecting more small cancers than ever before - cancers impossible to feel with the human hand. This makes earlier and less drastic treatment possible, and gives women a greater chance of survival."
"In 1997/98 we screened more than one and a quarter million women, and detected nearly eight thousand cancers. We are proud of the breast screening programme and it's international reputation, and are looking forward to extending the invitations for screening to 65-70 year old women and to introducing double-view mammography to all screening rounds in the future."
- NHSBSP home page
- Programme publications
- About breast screening
- What is breast screening?
- What does the NHS Breast Screening Programme do?
- When was the NHS Breast Screening Programme set up?
- What happens at a breast screening unit?
- Why are women under 50 not routinely invited?
- Are women screened over the age of 70?
- Does breast screening save lives?
- Does breast screening have any risks?
- What is Digital Mammography?
- Research in breast screening
- About breast cancer
- Programme logistics
- Frequently asked questions
- Programme statistics
- Mammography equipment reports
- Programme news index
- Useful links