Cancer Research UK: Screening works
Wednesday, 09 Jan 2008 09:26
Improvements in breast cancer survival rates during the last 20 years are due in part to the UK's screening programme, Cancer Research UK has said.
The charity says that eight out of ten patients now survive more than five years after being diagnosed with the cancer.
Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK's director of health information, described the NHS national screening programme as "very effective".
Her comments follow an analysis of the impact of the screening programme in East Anglia, which showed that deaths from breast cancer in the region had been cut almost in half.
"Here is more proof that screening works – our breast, cervical and now also bowel cancer screening programmes are certainly effective," said Ms Hiom.
"The government has committed to extending the screening programme in England by 2012 so that more women benefit. Women aged 47 to 73 will be invited so that every woman will have their first screening before the age of 50."
She added: "Cancer Research UK is working to get even more people into screening programmes and to encourage everyone invited to participate – support for our Screening Matters campaign will help do this."
