Breast Cancer Campaign Comment on BMJ story: New study supports claim that breast screening may be causing more harm than good

12/8/2011 10:56 AM EST

Embargo 11.30pm Thursday 8 December 2011

Research: Possible net harms of breast cancer screening: updated modelling of Forrest report

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Campaign comments, “While the study today has questioned the value of the screening programme this should not be seen in isolation. Some recent studies have provided evidence of the benefits of the screening programme and it has been estimated that it saves 1400 lives a year.

“As a result of these conflicting views we fully support the Government's action to address the debate about the benefits of screening by initiating an independent review of the evidence. We hope this will reassure women trying to make up their minds about whether to attend and in the meantime we would encourage women to attend their routine screening appointments.”


Ends

Notes to editors
• Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure
• The charity currently funds 101 projects worth almost £16.5 million in 31 locations across the UK and Ireland
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women
• In the UK, around 48,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 130 a day
• The Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank, the UK’s first ever national breast cancer tissue bank is a unique collaboration with four leading research institutions to create a vital resource of breast cancer tissue for researchers across the UK and Ireland. Visit breastcancertissuebank.org
• Visit breastcancercampaign.org or follow us at twitter.com/bccampaign