BBC News – Breast cancer risk has risen for South Asian women

The breast cancer risk for British Asian women has increased, a study carried out in Leicester suggests.

via BBC News – Breast cancer risk has risen for South Asian women.

Cost effectiveness of the NHS breast screening programme: life table model | BMJ

via Cost effectiveness of the NHS breast screening programme: life table model | BMJ.

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Abstract

Objective To assess the overall cost effectiveness of the NHS breast screening programme, based on findings of the Independent UK Panel on Breast Cancer Screening and taking into account the uncertainty of associated estimates of benefits, harms, and costs.

Survival from breast cancer is lower in UK than in other developed countries | BMJ

Women aged over 70 with breast cancer and women in all age groups with more advanced disease may be treated less aggressively in the United Kingdom than in some other countries, an international study indicates.

via Survival from breast cancer is lower in UK than in other developed countries | BMJ.

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Socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities in screen-detected breast cancer in London

Socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities in screen-detected breast cancer in London.

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Abstract

Background We investigated socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities in screen-detected breast cancer in London—a city with relatively low breast cancer screening uptake and a diverse population.

Women’s views on overdiagnosis in breast cancer screening: a qualitative study | BMJ

Women’s views on overdiagnosis in breast cancer screening: a qualitative study | BMJ.

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Abstract
Objective To elicit women’s responses to information about the nature and extent of overdiagnosis in mammography screening (detecting disease that would not present clinically during the woman’s lifetime) and explore how awareness of overdiagnosis might influence attitudes and intentions about screening.

“Citizens’ jury” disagrees over whether screening leaflet should put reassurance before accuracy

A “citizens’ jury” of 25 women, assembled this week to provide advice for the drafting of a new leaflet on breast cancer screening, has reached consensus on some of the tricky issues.

via “Citizens’ jury” disagrees over whether screening leaflet should put reassurance before accuracy | BMJ.

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Breast screening is beneficial, panel concludes, but women need to know about harms

Breast screening is beneficial, panel concludes, but women need to know about harms | BMJ.
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UK women invited to attend screening for breast cancer are three times as likely to be treated for a cancer that would never have harmed them as they are to have their lives saved, an expert panel has concluded

‘Smart drug’ offers breast cancer hope

‘Smart drug’ offers breast cancer hope – Health News – NHS Choices.

NHS Choices examines the science behind the newspaper headlines.

Conclusion

This exciting study has shown the efficacy and safety of a new drug, T-DM1, for patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer.

Breast cancer screening does ‘more good than harm’

Breast cancer screening saves the lives of two women for every one patient who receives unnecessary treatment, according to a major European revie

via BBC News – Breast cancer screening does ‘more good than harm’.

Mammography screening has little or no effect on breast cancer deaths, Swedish data indicate

via Mammography screening has little or no effect on breast cancer deaths, Swedish data indicate | BMJ.

 

This article is available freely via Open Access. Please click on the above link to view it fully.

Mammography screening has little or no effect on mortality from breast cancer in women aged 40-69, shows an analysis of Swedish figures published this week. But commentators argue that trends in breast cancer deaths cannot be used to evaluate screening in isolation from developments in diagnostic methods and treatment.

 

Newspapers hail ‘new breast cancer blood test’

Newspapers hail ‘new breast cancer blood test’ – Health News – NHS Choices.

NHS Choices examines the science behind the newspaper headlines.

Conclusion

This case-control study provides evidence that a type of molecular modification (methylation) at a particular genetic site may be associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Articles disputing link between HRT and breast cancer are “ridiculous”

via Articles disputing link between HRT and breast cancer are “ridiculous” | BMJ.

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A leading epidemiologist has condemned a group of authors for writing and a journal for publishing a series of articles challenging the well established link between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and breast cancer, describing their actions as “a disgrace.”

 

Studies linking HRT to breast cancer ‘were wrong’

Studies linking HRT to breast cancer ‘were wrong’ – Health News – NHS Choices.

This article is available freely via Open Access. Please click on the above link to view it fully.

 

Conclusion

Researchers have reanalysed the design and data from three studies that had suggested that HRT is associated with an increased risk that breast cancer would develop. They wanted to determine whether HRT caused breast cancer to develop (that the link was “causal”). The researchers looked at a pooled analysis study called the Collaborative Reanalysis, the Women’s Health Initiative randomised controlled trials and the Million Women Study, which was a large prospective cohort study including 800,000 post-menopausal women.

The researchers found that these studies each failed to meet the majority of nine criteria which would be need to be met in order to say whether the studies could establish causality. These criteria included whether the women in the studies took HRT before their cancer developed. They looked at whether the studies had controlled for any confounding factors (where a factor may be associated with both the likelihood of taking HRT and the likelihood of developing breast cancer). The researchers also looked at the biological plausibility of any causal link.

This research is important because it makes us reconsider the evidence that suggested HRT might increase risk of breast cancer rather than their just being an association between the two. This new research shows that these studies can only tell us that there may or may not be a link between HRT and increased risk of breast cancer. Further, carefully designed studies are needed to determine whether HRT does indeed cause an increased risk of breast cancer.

Women who are taking HRT for menopausal symptoms or who used to take HRT should note the advice from Cancer Help UK, which states that any cancer risk associated with HRT reduces to a normal level five years after you stop taking HRT.

Links to the science

Shapiro S, Farmer RDT, Seaman H, et al. Does hormone replacement therapy cause breast cancer? An application of causal principles to three studies. Part 1. The Collaborative Reanalysis. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 2011;37:103-109.

Shapiro S, Farmer RDT, Meuck AO, et al. Does hormone replacement therapy cause breast cancer? An application of causal principles to three studies. Part 2. The Women’s Health Initiative: estrogen plus progestogen. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 2011;37:165-172.

Shapiro S, Farmer RDT, Meuck AO, et al. Does hormone replacement therapy cause breast cancer? An application of causal principles to three studies. Part 3. The Women’s Health Initiative: unopposed estrogen. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 2011;37:225-230.

Shapiro S, Farmer RDT, Stevenson JC, et al. Does hormone replacement therapy cause breast cancer? An application of causal principles to three studies. Part 4. The Million Women Study. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care. Published online January 17 2012

Performance indicators for participation in organized mammography screening

Performance indicators for participation in organized mammography screening.

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Abstract

Background A population’s acceptance of a screening programme is reflected by its participation. Participation can be measured by cross-section, in an individual screening round, or by cumulative examination rate, which covers participation in numerous rounds at a pre-specified frequency. To establish an informed overview of programme performance, the relationship between these measures was analysed.

Methods The Central Population Register (CPR) of Denmark was used to define the total population. The data sources were mammography screening programmes in Copenhagen (1991–2008) and Funen (1993–2008) and participation and coverage rates were calculated according to European guidelines. Long-term adherence was defined as the cumulative examination rate.

Results The participation rates were 71% in Copenhagen and 91% in Funen. The cumulative examination rates across all invitation rounds were between 21 and 24% lower than the average participation rates.

Conclusions If the cumulative examination rate across all, or the majority of, invitation rounds is substantially lower than the average participation rate it may suggest that standard cross-sectional performance indicators overestimate the level of protection provided to the women targeted by the programme. Consequently, it may prove valuable to include cumulative examination rate as a performance indicator of mammography screening.

Breast cancer link to small amount of alcohol

Regularly drinking even a small quantity of alcohol could increase the risk of breast cancer, say researchers.

via BBC News – Breast cancer link to small amount of alcohol.

The original abstract can be viewed by clicking here

Do statins cut breast cancer recurrence?

Source: Do statins cut breast cancer recurrence? – Health News – NHS Choices.

Conclusion

In this cohort study, use of a lipophilic statin (including simvastatin, the most commonly prescribed of the statins) was associated with a reduced risk of recurrent breast cancer in women with invasive breast cancer.

The researchers also investigated the association between the exclusive use of simvastatin and the risk of recurrent breast cancer, and found that that use of simvastatin reduced the risk of recurrent breast cancer compared to no statin treatment or treatment with a hydrophilic statin. Use of a hydrophilic (water-soluble) statin, including atorvastatin, pravastatin or rosuvastatin, was not found to be associated with reduced risk, though the strength of this association is limited by the small proportion of statin users (only 6%) who used this type of statin. There trial also has numerous limitations, including the fact that it is not known whether the women who were prescribed statins actually took the drugs. Also, the study was not able to adjust for certain potential confounders that may have affected the risk of breast cancer recurrence, such as the women’s body mass index.

This finding is worthy of further study to investigate whether it is the use of lipophilic statins that  directly reduces the risk of recurrent breast cancer. Further investigation into why these types of statins have this effect is also warranted.

On its own, this study can only demonstrate an association and does not provide conclusive evidence that statins reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. A randomised controlled trial would be needed to more accurately determine whether taking a statin reduces the risk of recurrence in women previously diagnosed with breast cancer. However, the ethics of using statins in women with no cardiovascular reason for taking them would need to be considered in such a trial.

The current study does not provide any evidence that taking a statin protects against developing breast cancer in the first place. Without further study, women previously diagnosed with breast cancer and who have no cardiovascular risk factors should not be encouraged to start taking statins to try to prevent cancer recurrence.

Links to the headlines

Daily dose of statins could cut risk of breast cancer by 30%. Daily Mail, October 31 2011

Links to the science

Ahern TP, Pedersen L, Tarp M et al. Statin Prescriptions and Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk: A Danish Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2011) 103 (19): 1461-1468.

Observations: Breast Screening

The NHS breast screening programme needs independent review

An independent review is under way — Richards 343 — bmj.com.

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The BMJ has published several articles over the past few years raising concerns about the accuracy and transparency of information provided to women about the benefits and harms of mammography screening for breast cancer. Last month the professor of complex obstetrics Susan Bewley sent us for publication an open letter to England’s cancer tsar. Here we publish the letter and Mike Richards’s response

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New test to predict breast cancer recurrence

New test to predict breast cancer recurrence.

NHS Choices examines the science behind the newspaper headlines.

Conclusion

This study assessed a new combined test’s ability to predict the risk of disease recurrence in oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer patients whose disease had not spread to nearby lymph nodes. The test builds on an existing genetic measure, but adds clinical factors to classify a patient’s risk level.

The researchers found that the new test classified more patients at low risk for disease recurrence compared to the original test. However, it did not improve the ability to predict a patient’s potential benefit from receiving chemotherapy.

The researchers say that planning cancer treatments should be based on both the benefits and risks of treatment for each individual patient. The researchers say that their test is not going to be of benefit for all patients and that those who have been classified as either at low or high risk based on their recurrence scores are unlikely to benefit from the new combined test. Those classified as at intermediate risk based on their RS are more likely to benefit from the new test, as it appears to assess more accurately the recurrence risk for this group of patients.

The researchers conclude that RSPC can aid in making chemotherapy decisions in cases where RS and clinical measures do not agree, for instance, when RS predicts high risk of recurrence, but tumour size and other clinical factors predict low risk.

It should be noted that around one in three breast cancers is negative for oestrogen receptors, and this study cannot tell us about the model’s use on ER-negative cancers or those that have spread.

 Links to the headlines

New breast cancer test could spare thousands chemo. The Daily Telegraph, October 20 2011

Test may save thousands of breast cancer victims from chemotherapy ordeal, but will it be rationed? Daily Mail, October 20 2011

Breast cancer test could save cash and lives. Daily Express, October 20 2011

Links to the science

Tang G, Cuzick J, Costantino JP et al. Risk of Recurrence and Chemotherapy Benefit for Patients With Node-Negative, Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer: Recurrence Score Alone and Integrated With Pathologic and Clinical Factors. Journal of Clinical Oncology, October 20 2011

Effect of mammography screening on surgical treatment for breast cancer in Norway: comparative analysis of cancer registry data

Effect of mammography screening on surgical treatment for breast cancer in Norway: comparative analysis of cancer registry data — Suhrke et al. 343 — bmj.com.

This article is available freely via Open Access. Please click on the above link to view it fully.

Abstract

Objective To determine the effect of mammography screening on surgical treatment for breast cancer.

Design Comparative analysis of data from Norwegian cancer registry.

Setting Mammography screening, Norway (screening of women aged 50-69 was introduced sequentially from 1996 to 2004).

Participants 35 408 women aged 40-79 with invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ treated surgically from 1993 to 2008.

Main outcome measures Rates of breast surgery (mastectomy plus breast conserving treatment) and rates of mastectomy for three age groups of women: 40-49, 50-69, and 70-79. Changes in rates from pre-screening period (1993-5) to introduction of screening phase (1996-2004) and then to screening period (2005-8) are presented as hazard ratios in invited and non-invited women.

Results The annual rate for breast surgery from the pre-screening period (1993-5) to screening period (2005-8) in Norway increased by 70% (hazard ratio 1.70, 95% confidence interval 1.62 to 1.78), from 180 to 305 per 100 000 women in the invited age group (50-69 years). In the younger, non-invited age group (40-49 years), however, the increase was only 8% (1.08, 1.00 to 1.16), from 133 to 144 per 100 000 women per year, whereas in the older, non-invited age group (70-79 years) the rate decreased by 8% (0.92, 0.86 to 1.00), from 227 to 214 per 100 000 women per year. The rates for mastectomy decreased similarly from the pre-screening period to screening period in invited and non-invited women. From the pre-screening period to the introduction phase of screening (1996-2004), however, the annual mastectomy rate in women aged 50-69 invited to screening increased by 9% (1.09, 1.03 to 1.14), from 156 to 167 per 100 000 women, and in the younger non-invited women declined by 17% (0.83, 0.78 to 0.90), from 109 to 91 per 100 000 women. In consequence, the mastectomy rate was 31% (1.31, 1.20 to 1.43) higher in the invited than in the non-invited younger age group.

Conclusions Mammography screening in Norway was associated with a noticeable increase in rates for breast cancer surgery in women aged 50-69 (the age group invited to screening) and also an increase in mastectomy rates. Although over-diagnosis is likely to have caused the initial increase in mastectomy rates and the overall increase in surgery rates in the age group screened, the more recent decline in mastectomy rates has affected all age groups and is likely to have resulted from changes in surgical policy.

 

‘Misleading’ cancer screening programme under fire

Source:‘Misleading’ cancer screening programme under fire | News | Health Service Journal.

This article is solely the work of the HSJ. For a full copy of the article please contact the library.

The NHS breast cancer screening programme “misinforms” women and fails to disclose the harms of over-diagnosis, researchers have claimed.

 

The association between socio-demographic characteristics and adherence to breast and colorectal cancer screening: Analysis of large sub populations

Abstract | The association between socio-demographic characteristics and adherence to breast and colorectal cancer screening: Analysis of large sub populations.

This article is available freely via Open Access. Please click on the above link to view it fully.

Abstract (provisional)

 

Background

Populations having lower socioeconomic status, as well as ethnic minorities, have demonstrated lower utilization of preventive screening, including tests for early detection of breast and colorectal cancer. The objective: To explore socio-demographic disparities in adherence to screening recommendations for early detection of cancer.

Methods

The study was conducted by Maccabi Healthcare Services, an Israeli HMO (health plan) providing healthcare services to 1.9 million members. Utilization of breast cancer (BC) and colorectal cancer (CC) screening were analyzed by socio-economic ranks (SERs), ethnicity (Arab vs non-Arab), immigration status and ownership of voluntarily supplemental health insurance (VSHI).

Results

Data on 157,928 and 303,330 adults, eligible for BC and CC screening, respectively, were analyzed. Those having lower SER, Arabs, immigrants from Former Soviet Union countries and non-owners of VSHI performed fewer cancer screening examinations compared with those having higher SER, non-Arabs, veterans and owners of VSHI (p<0.001). Logistic regression model for BC Screening revealed a positive association with age and ownership of VSHI and a negative association with being an Arab and having a lower SER. The model for CC screening revealed a positive association with age and ownership of VSHI and a negative association with being an Arab, having a lower SER and being an immigrant. The model estimated for BC and CC screening among females revealed a positive association with age and ownership of VSHI and a negative association with being an Arab, having a lower SER and being an immigrant.

Conclusion

Patients from low socio-economic backgrounds, Arabs, immigrants and those who do not own supplemental insurance do fewer tests for early detection of cancer. These sub-populations should be considered priority populations for targeted intervention programs and improved resource allocation. Key Words: Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Early Detection of Cancer, Health Disparities, Demographic Characteristics

A Nation-Wide Multicenter 10-year (1999-2008) Retrospective Clinical Epidemiological Study of Female Breast Cancer in China

Abstract | A Nation-Wide Multicenter 10-year (1999-2008) Retrospective Clinical Epidemiological Study of Female Breast Cancer in China.

This article is available freely via Open Access. Please click on the above link to view it fully.

Abstract (provisional)

 

Background

According to the very limited cancer registry, incidence and mortality rates for female breast cancer in China are regarded to be increasing especially in the metropolitan areas. Representative data on the breast cancer profile of Chinese women and its time trend over years are relatively rare. The aims of the current study are to illustrate the breast cancer profile of Chinese women in time span and to explore the current treatment approaches to female breast cancer.

Methods

This was a hospital-based nation-wide and multi-center retrospective study of female primary breast cancer cases. China was divided into 7 regions according to the geographic distribution; from each region, one tertiary hospital was selected. With the exception of January and February, one month was randomly selected to represent each year from year 1999 to 2008 at every hospital. All inpatient cases within the selected month were reviewed and related information was collected based on the designed case report form (CRF). The Cancer Hospital/Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CICAMS) was the leading hospital in this study.

Results

Four-thousand two-hundred and eleven cases were randomly selected from the total pool of 45,200 patients and were included in the analysis. The mean age at diagnosis was 48.7 years (s.d.=10.5 yrs) and breast cancer peaked in age group 40-49 yrs (38.6%). The most common subtype was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (86.5%). Clinical stage I&II accounted for 60.6% of 4,211 patients. Three-thousand five-hundred and thirty-four cases had estrogen receptor (ER) and progestin receptor (PR) tests, among them, 47.9% were positive for both. Two-thousand eight-hundred and forty-nine cases had human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2) tests, 25.8% of them were HER-2 positive. Among all treatment options, surgery (96.9% (4,078/4,211)) was predominant, followed by chemotherapy (81.4% (3,428/4,211).Much less patients underwent radiotherapy (22.6% (952/4,211)) and endocrine therapy (38.0% (1,599/4,211)).

Conclusions

The younger age of breast cancer onset among Chinese women and more advanced tumor stages pose a great challenge. Adjuvant therapy, especially radiotherapy and endocrine therapy are of great unmet needs.

Extending the age range for breast screening in England: pilot study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of randomization

Extending the age range for breast screening in England: pilot study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of randomization — Moser et al. 18 (2): 96 — Journal of Medical Screening.

Objective To assess the feasibility and acceptability of randomizing thephased introduction of the extension of the invited age rangein the National Health Service (NHS) Breast Screening Programmein England from 50–70 to 47–73 years.

SettingSix volunteer breast screening units (BSUs) in England.

Methods Cluster-randomized trial of invitation versus no invitationfor breast screening. Study participants: women aged 47–49and 71–73 years in screening batches randomized between1 June 2009 and 31 May 2010. Outcomes: workload, screening uptakeamong women invited, self-referrals among women not invited,and screening outcomes among women invited.

Results A total of 312 screening batches (clusters) were randomizedincluding 60,708 women. Screening uptake was 63% in women aged47–49 and 62% in women aged 71–73. Those who attendedscreening in the younger age group were more likely to be recalledfor assessment than older attendees (7.5% vs. 3.0%) but lesslikely to be diagnosed with breast cancer (0.5% vs. 1.1%). Amongwomen not invited, 0.2% of those aged 47–49 and 6.8% ofthose aged 71–73 self-referred for screening. Despitethe extra workload BSUs largely coped although there was someslippage in round lengths and other targets.

Conclusion No major problems of feasibility or acceptability of randomizationwere found. This pilot study has informed the randomized phasing-inof the age extension across the whole of England.

A comparison of breast density measures between mothers and adolescent daughters

Abstract | A comparison of breast density measures between mothers and adolescent daughters.

 This article is available freely via Open Access. Please click on the above link to view it fully.

Background

Based on the importance of breast density as a predictor of breast cancer risk, we examined the heritable component of breast measures in mothers and daughters using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA).

Methods

We recruited 101 mothers [greater than or equal to]30 years and their daughters aged 10-16 years through Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. Scans of both breasts were taken using a DXA system in research mode, calibrated to distinguish fibroglandular and fatty breast tissue. We calculated correlation coefficients between mothers and daughters for breast volume, absolute fibroglandular volume (FGV), and %FGV and performed multiple linear regression to include relevant covariates.

Results

Breast volume and absolute FGV in daughters were lower than in mothers and were positively associated with % total body fat and Tanner breast stage. In contrast, %FGV in daughters was higher than in mothers and was inversely associated with % total body fat. Although unadjusted correlations between mothers and daughters were significant for breast volume and absolute FGV (r=0.28 and p<0.01 for both), models adjusted for demographic variables, Tanner stage, and % total body fat indicated significant associations only among the more mature girls (Tanner stages 4&5). There was no significant association between %FGV of mothers and daughters.

Conclusions

These results indicate that the heritability of breast volume and amount of dense tissue is measurable in adolescence, but percent breast density shows no relation between mothers and daughters at that time. Further study of breast tissue composition during adolescence and in young women may enhance understanding of breast cancer risk later in life.

Obesity ‘leading driver’ of breast cancer

Source: BBC News – Obesity ‘leading driver’ of breast cancer.

Obesity is the biggest driving force behind the most common form of breast cancer in older women, say researchers. Alcohol and then cigarettes are the next largest culprits, according to Cancer Research UK.

 

Association of active and passive smoking with risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women: a prospective cohort study

Source: Association of active and passive smoking with risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women: a prospective cohort study.

This article is freely available via Open Access and can be accessed via link above.

Abstract

Objective To examine the association between smoking and risk of invasive breast cancer using quantitative measures of lifetime passive and active smoking exposure among postmenopausal women.

Design Prospective cohort study.

Setting 40 clinical centres in the United States.

Participants 79 990 women aged 50–79 enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study during 1993–8.

Main outcome measures Self reported active and passive smoking, pathologically confirmed invasive breast cancer.

Results In total, 3520 incident cases of invasive breast cancer were identified during an average of 10.3 years of follow-up. Compared with women who had never smoked, breast cancer risk was elevated by 9% among former smokers (hazard ratio 1.09 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.17)) and by 16% among current smokers (hazard ratio 1.16 (1.00 to 1.34)). Significantly higher breast cancer risk was observed in active smokers with high intensity and duration of smoking, as well as with initiation of smoking in the teenage years. The highest breast cancer risk was found among women who had smoked for ≥50 years or more (hazard ratio 1.35 (1.03 to1.77) compared with all lifetime non-smokers, hazard ratio 1.45 (1.06 to 1.98) compared with lifetime non-smokers with no exposure to passive smoking). An increased risk of breast cancer persisted for up to 20 years after smoking cessation. Among women who had never smoked, after adjustment for potential confounders, those with the most extensive exposure to passive smoking (≥10 years’ exposure in childhood, ≥20 years’ exposure as an adult at home, and ≥10 years’ exposure as an adult at work) had a 32% excess risk of breast cancer compared with those who had never been exposed to passive smoking (hazard ratio 1.32 (1.04 to 1.67)). However, there was no significant association in the other groups with lower exposure and no clear dose response to cumulative passive smoking exposure.

Conclusions Active smoking was associated with an increase in breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. There was also a suggestion of an association between passive smoking and increased risk of breast cancer.

First UK national data reveal more breast cancers between screenings than expected

Source:�First UK national data reveal more breast cancers between screenings than expected — Mayor 342 — bmj.com.

Summary: Breast cancers that develop between scheduled screening tests—interval cancers—occur at a slightly higher rate than expected, according to the first national data for the UK. The study analysed data for more than 7.3 million women aged 50 to 64 who had a routine screening test for breast cancer between April 1997 and March 2003 at the 92 screening centres in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. They were all taking part in the UK NHS Breast Screening Programme, which invites women aged between 50 and 70 years for a mammogram every three years.

The full study can be viewed here

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Publicity of NHS breast cancer screening programme is unfair

Source: Publicity of NHS breast cancer screening programme is unfair — McPherson 342 — bmj.com.

Summary: Klim McPherson has written to BMJ criticsing the publications and the promotion of the Breast cancer screening programme, highlighting areas they find deficent or misleading.  

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Breast cancer risk increased to ‘one in eight’

Source: BBC News – Breast cancer risk increased to ‘one in eight’.

Summary: A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer has risen to one in eight from one in nine, according to Cancer Research UK. The charity’s figures show that breast cancer rates in the UK have increased by 3.5% in 10 years, from 42,400 in 1999 to 47,700 in 2008. Women aged between 50 and 69 have seen the biggest rise in breast cancer rates, of 6%. . Lifestyle changes have been noted including less exercise and more alcohol

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