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| Third of breast cancer 'harmless' | Third of breast cancer 'harmless' |
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| One in three breast cancers detected by mammogram screening may actually be harmless, a study has suggested. | One in three breast cancers detected by mammogram screening may actually be harmless, a study has suggested. |
| Data from five countries, including the UK, suggest some women may have had unnecessary treatment for cancers that were unlikely to kill them or spread. | Data from five countries, including the UK, suggest some women may have had unnecessary treatment for cancers that were unlikely to kill them or spread. |
| As it is not possible to distinguish between lethal and harmless cancers, all are treated. | As it is not possible to distinguish between lethal and harmless cancers, all are treated. |
| But advocates of screening insist it is a vital tool for early detection of cancerous cells. | But advocates of screening insist it is a vital tool for early detection of cancerous cells. |
| Screening programmes | Screening programmes |
| Researchers from the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Denmark said their results showed cancer screening programmes could lead to "overdiagnosis". | Researchers from the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Denmark said their results showed cancer screening programmes could lead to "overdiagnosis". |
| Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), they said: "Screening for cancer may lead to earlier detection of lethal cancers but also detects harmless ones that will not cause death or symptoms. | Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), they said: "Screening for cancer may lead to earlier detection of lethal cancers but also detects harmless ones that will not cause death or symptoms. |
| "The detection of such cancers, which would not have been identified clinically in someone's remaining lifetime, is called overdiagnosis and can only be harmful to those who experience it." | "The detection of such cancers, which would not have been identified clinically in someone's remaining lifetime, is called overdiagnosis and can only be harmful to those who experience it." |
| Based on all the current evidence, we believe the benefits of detecting breast cancer early still outweigh the risks Dr Sarah Cant | Based on all the current evidence, we believe the benefits of detecting breast cancer early still outweigh the risks Dr Sarah Cant |
| They looked at a range of statistics from five countries which had implemented screening programmes, including data for England and Wales from between 1971 and 1999. | They looked at a range of statistics from five countries which had implemented screening programmes, including data for England and Wales from between 1971 and 1999. |
| The findings seem to confirm research published by the same team earlier this year. | The findings seem to confirm research published by the same team earlier this year. |
| Dr Sarah Cant, from Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said she hoped the research would not discourage women from attending screening. | Dr Sarah Cant, from Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said she hoped the research would not discourage women from attending screening. |
| "Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to predict which cancers found through screening will develop aggressively and which will grow very slowly," she said. | "Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to predict which cancers found through screening will develop aggressively and which will grow very slowly," she said. |
| "Based on all the current evidence, we believe the benefits of detecting breast cancer early still outweigh the risks." | "Based on all the current evidence, we believe the benefits of detecting breast cancer early still outweigh the risks." |
| She added that women needed to be given clear information about breast screening and it was important to remember that "while survival rates have increased greatly in recent years, just under 12,000 women still die from this disease each year in the UK." | She added that women needed to be given clear information about breast screening and it was important to remember that "while survival rates have increased greatly in recent years, just under 12,000 women still die from this disease each year in the UK." |
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