Women who miss their first breast cancer screening appointment face a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, according to a major new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
The research, published in the British Medical Journal, tracked around 500,000 women invited for their first mammogram between 1991 and 2020. Nearly one in three (32%) did not attend, and over a follow-up period of up to 25 years, those who skipped the initial check were more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage and less likely to attend later screenings.
The findings showed breast cancer mortality was 9.9 deaths per 1,000 women among non-attenders compared with seven per 1,000 among those screened, even though the overall rate of breast cancer was similar between groups. Researchers said the results highlight the long-term importance of early participation.
US experts responding in a linked editorial said the first screening was “far more than a short-term health check” and should be seen as a “long-term investment in breast health and survival”.
In England, women are invited for screening between the ages of 50 and 71, with a first invitation by age 53. NHS figures show only 70% of eligible women were up to date as of March 2024. Claire Rowney, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, called the numbers “worryingly high” and urged urgent action to ensure screening was both encouraged and accessible.
The study comes amid wider warnings about cancer. Separate research in The Lancet predicts annual global cancer deaths will rise by nearly 75% to 18.6 million by 2050, driven by ageing populations and preventable risks such as smoking and unhealthy diets.
In more positive developments, UK scientists have identified a protein, SPP1, that appears to drive the spread of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. Blocking the protein in experiments increased survival times, raising hopes for a new class of targeted therapies.
