IARC says "mammography screening can reduce deaths from breast cancer"

Published 19th March, 2002

Julietta Patnick, National Coordinator, NHS Breast Screening Programme, commented:

"This should reassure the one and a half million women who come forward for breast screening each year that the NHS Breast Screening Programme is an effective part of this country's efforts to reduce the death toll from breast cancer."

"We are delighted with the results of this comprehensive international review, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organisation, that indicates a '35 per cent reduction in mortality from breast cancer among screened women aged 50-69 years old who do not have known breast cancer'. This represents consensus among leading experts from 11 countries."

"In 1999/2000, the NHS Breast Screening Programme detected 9,525 cancers an increase of 8.6 per cent on 1998/1999. Of those, 4,041 (an increase of 8.6 per cent on 1998/1999) were cancers smaller than 15mm which are usually impossible to feel with the human hand."

"The NHS Breast Screening Programme in 1999/2000 cost approximately £52 million, which translates into £30 per women invited, and £40 per women screened."

As part of IARC's evidence, Professor Valerie Beral, member of IARC's expert working group, said:

"Out of every 500 women screened, one life will be saved."