What else happens to 1000 women aged 40 who have screening mammograms every two years for 10 years?
21 women are diagnosed with breast cancer over the next 10 years
- 12 women will have their cancer detected by screening
- 9 women develop symptoms and are diagnosed with breast cancer between screening mammograms
239 women have extra tests after an abnormal mammogram. The extra tests will show these women don't have breast cancer. Aside from the inconvenience of attending for these tests, some women will worry long after they have had them4
740 women are correctly reassured they do not have breast cancer
What else happens to 1000 women aged 40 who do not have screening mammograms during the next 10 years?
14 women develop symptoms and are diagnosed with breast cancer
986 women continue with their daily activities without being affected by breast cancer or attending for screening for the next 10 years
In summary, screening 1000 women aged 40 every 2 years for next 10 years results in
• 0.5 less deaths from breast cancer » Find out why
• 7 extra women diagnosed with breast cancer » Find out why
• 239 women having tests after an abnormal mammogram without having breast cancer found. They may worry from these "false alarms" » Find out why
• 740 women are correctly reassured they do not have breast cancer
• 9 women have breast cancer diagnosed between screens, even though they regularly attend screening » Find out why