Younger women might benefit from breast cancer screening

Regular mammography in women in their late 40s may reduce breast cancer mortality, according to two long term UK trials published last week. The national breast cancer screening programme in Britain, however, will not be extended to younger women until the results of a more definitive trial are known.

The UK trial of early detection of breast cancer, a non-randomised study, followed up women for 16 years who attended eight centres in England and Scotland. Mortality from breast cancer was 27%lower in …