BMJ 1998;317:388-389 ( 8 August )

Papers

Routine invitation of women aged 65-69 for breast cancer screening: results of first year of pilot study

See p   376 and Editorial by Werneke and McPherson

Gary Rubin, director, ^a Linda Garvican, principal public health specialist, ^b Sue Moss, acting director. ^c

^a East Sussex Brighton and Hove Breast Screening Service, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton BN2 5BE, ^b South East Institute of Public Health, Broomhill House, David Salomons' Estate, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0XT, ^c Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5NG

Correspondence to: Dr Garvican linda.garvican@btinternet.com

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

Evidence from Sweden shows that screening for breast cancer is as effective in reducing mortality from the disease in women aged 65-69 as it is in women aged 50-64.¹ However, although the British government's Forrest report recognised that older women were more likely to develop breast cancer, it recommended that they should not be routinely invited for screening because of low cost effectiveness from a likely low uptake and shorter life expectancy.² Instead women over 64 years are entitled to self refer every three yearsalthough few do so.³

A three-centre pilot study was established in which women aged 65-69 are routinely invited for breast screening. This study investigates the problems of extending the programme to this age group, and cost effectiveness. Based on the results a policy decision should be possible.

The East Sussex service started inviting women in May 1996, followed in 1997 by the Leeds and Wakefield, and Nottingham centres. We report . . . [Full text of this article]

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