This is the third side of the breast screening coin and one that is
talked about even less than the issue of over-diagnosis and unnecessary
treatment.
It is now widely accepted that, for every one woman who has her life
prolonged as a result of breast screening, 10 are harmed. In my case, this
harm was serious and persisting - I am at present in bed recovering from
yet another bout of cellulitis.
However, no-one seems to be counting how many women are failed
because screening does not pick up an obvious cancer. Surely it is not
beyond the wit of someone to collect data on every woman diagnosed with
breast cancer within, say, a year of having had a supposedly clear
mammogram? Or is someone worried that this will show up so many false
negatives that the whole brest screening programme will fall even further
into disrepute?
Rapid Response:
The third side of the breast screening coin
This is the third side of the breast screening coin and one that is
talked about even less than the issue of over-diagnosis and unnecessary
treatment.
It is now widely accepted that, for every one woman who has her life
prolonged as a result of breast screening, 10 are harmed. In my case, this
harm was serious and persisting - I am at present in bed recovering from
yet another bout of cellulitis.
However, no-one seems to be counting how many women are failed
because screening does not pick up an obvious cancer. Surely it is not
beyond the wit of someone to collect data on every woman diagnosed with
breast cancer within, say, a year of having had a supposedly clear
mammogram? Or is someone worried that this will show up so many false
negatives that the whole brest screening programme will fall even further
into disrepute?
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests