Vital Statistics

50,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, many by the NHS breast screening programme. The Independent reports today that this valuable service is to be independently reviewed in the light of concerns over safety. Screening is routinely offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 every three years and is said to save 1,400 lives per year. The investigation that has been announced today in a letter to the British Medical Journal by members of the executive of Cancer Research Uk has been sparked by the consideration that women are often "over-diagnosed" by this screening process. It is suggested that many end up having further investigation and prolonged treatment for cancer which would have otherwise remained undetected and caused no problems. Major critics of the screening programme are based at the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Denmark, they believe that only one woman per 2000 screened per decade are saved from cancer, this contrasts with the 1 in every 400 as stated by the NHS. Although the "vital statistics" are some what confusing do they really matter? Is the climate of watching the public purse going too far and putting finances ahead of detection and treatment of cancer? Also, if the results of the review reveal that screening needs to be reduced will this U-turn jeopardise the work of healthcare professional who have promoted screening for many more cancers such as cervical and prostrate cancers? I guess the jury is out until the review is performed, I await the results.