BMJ 1998;317:360-361 ( 8 August )

Editorials

Extending the benefits of breast cancer screening

Still hard to know how large the benefits will really be

Papers pp 376 , 388  

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Ever since the implementation of the NHS breast screening programme in 1988 two important questions have been consistently raised. Should the age range of women invited be extended from the current range of 50-64 years, and should the screening interval be reduced from the current three years? If we are to believe the cost effectiveness analysis by Boer et al in this week's issue (p 376),1 an increase in age to 69 and a two year interval would each generate substantial benefits in life years saved and deaths averted---but, needless to say, at a substantial cost. Moreover, the authors' conclusion that extending the age range is expected to prevent more deaths, whereas shortening the screening interval would save more life years leaves policymakers with a---not unfamiliar---ethical dilemma.

It is obviously desirable to improve life expectancy in those women already eligible for screening. Reducing the interval cancer rate, which is particularly high . . . [Full text of this article]


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

NHS breast screening programme
Heather Goodare, Margaret King, Michael Baum, Ann Johnson, Jane Shekhdar, N E Day, Rob Boer, Harry de Koning, Anthony Threlfall, Ciaran Woodman, Andrew Street, and Ellis Friedman
BMJ 1999 318: 397. [Extract] [Full Text]

Breast cancer screening: false positive rate is lower in older women
G Rubin and Linda Garvican
BMJ 1998 317: 599. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Extending the boundaries
BMJ 1998 317: 0. [Full Text]

Extending the boundaries
BMJ 1998 317: 0. [Full Text]

Cost effectiveness of shortening screening interval or extending age range of NHS breast screening programme: computer simulation study
Rob Boer, Harry de Koning, Anthony Threlfall, Peter Warmerdam, Andrew Street, Ellis Friedman, and Ciaran Woodman
BMJ 1998 317: 376-379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Routine invitation of women aged 65-69 for breast cancer screening: results of first year of pilot study
Gary Rubin, Linda Garvican, and Sue Moss
BMJ 1998 317: 388-389. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Goodare, H., King, M., Baum, M., Johnson, A., Shekhdar, J., Day, N E, Boer, R., de Koning, H., Threlfall, A., Woodman, C., Street, A., Friedman, E. (1999). NHS breast screening programme. BMJ 318: 397a-397 [Full text]  
  • Rubin, G, Garvican, L. (1998). Breast cancer screening: false positive rate is lower in older women. BMJ 317: 599-599 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

False positive rates are lower in older women
L Garvican
bmj.com, 18 Aug 1998 [Full text]



Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student 

BMJ