Breast cancer screening ‘reduces deaths, but risks overdiagnosis’

A new UK study has found that breast cancer screening, while generally beneficial, can result in potentially problematic overdiagnosis of the condition.

The independent review of the evidence for the benefits and downsides of breast cancer screening in the UK revealed that women who attend these screenings are 20 percent less likely to die of the disease than those who do not.

However, it was also shown that around 4,000 women each year are overdiagnosed, meaning they undergo treatment via surgery, chemotherapy or medication for a tumour that would not have caused any illness if left alone.

The report estimates that the chance of this happening is one percent, adding that clear communications of these risks and benefits to patients is essential.

Dr Harpal Kumar – chief executive of Cancer Research UK and a key contributor to the study – said that on balance, it remains advisable for women to attend breast cancer screenings when invited.

He added: "We hope that in the future there will be a number of new techniques that we can use alongside the screening programme to … reduce the numbers of women having unnecessary treatment."