Women Who Miss first Breast Cancer Screening Face Significantly Higher Mortality Risk, Study Finds
London, UK – Women who do not attend their first invitation for breast cancer screening are at a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, according to research published in The BMJ. The study, analyzing data from nearly 2.5 million women in England, underscores the critical importance of early detection adn highlights a concerning trend of missed appointments.
The research revealed that women who did not attend their initial screening appointment had a significantly elevated risk of breast cancer mortality compared to those who did participate. Researchers suggest this increased risk isn’t necessarily tied to a delayed diagnosis of existing cancer, but rather the loss of an opportunity for early risk assessment and education. As the study authors note, attending the first appointment provides a valuable opportunity to identify populations at high risk decades before adverse outcomes occur.
“Attending a first appointment was about far more than a short-term health check,” stated US researchers in a linked editorial published alongside the study. Even for women who don’t receive a cancer diagnosis at their first screening, simply receiving facts about risk reduction and recognizing potential symptoms can act as “a long-term investment in breast health and survival.”
Currently, in England, women are invited for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 71, with all eligible women expected to receive their first invitation by age 53. However, recent NHS data reveals that as of March 2024, only 70% of eligible women are up to date with their screenings, meaning nearly one in three are not participating.
Claire Rowney,chief executive of Breast Cancer Now,described the number of women missing their first appointment as “a worryingly high number,” and called for urgent action to improve access and encourage participation.
The findings arrive as global cancer rates are projected to surge. Separate research published in The Lancet forecasts a nearly 75% increase in the annual global cancer death toll,rising to 18.6 million by 2050. New cancer cases are expected to climb 61% in the next 25 years,reaching 30.5 million. While population growth and aging populations contribute to this trend, researchers emphasize that 42% of cancer deaths are linked to modifiable risk factors like smoking, poor diet, high blood sugar, and toxin exposure.
Despite these concerning projections, advancements in cancer research offer hope. Scientists recently identified a potential drug target for pancreatic cancer, discovering that blocking a protein called SPP1 could halt the spread of the most aggressive form of the disease, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and increase survival time. The findings, published in Nature, pave the way for the growth of targeted medicines.
“We identified a protein that, when blocked, can prevent cancer from spreading around the body and can hopefully keep patients living well for longer,” said axel behrens, a professor at the Institute of Cancer Research in London. The next step involves developing a drug to precisely target this protein.
