| George Conklin 2006-10-18, 4:34 pm |
|
"Ilena Rose" <BIA@mundo.com> wrote in message
news:03gcj2t5ptafuecfl26h2j2ghc1fkb5p9s@4ax.com...
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6061652.stm
>
>
> Breast screening 'may harm some'
> Concerns have been raised that breast cancer screening might lead to
> some women undergoing unnecessary treatment.
> Researchers looked at international studies on half a million women.
>
> They found that for every 2,000 women screened over a decade, one will
> have her life prolonged, but 10 will have to undergo unnecessary
> treatment.
>
> UK experts said women over 50 should go for their breast checks, but a
> screening pioneer raised doubts about the programme's future.
>
> The report, published in the Cochrane Library, involved a review of
> breast cancer research papers from around the world.
>
>
> Women invited to screening should be fully informed of both benefits
> and harm
> Dr Peter Gotzsche, researcher
>
> The scientists found mammograms did reduce the number of women dying
> from the disease.
>
> But they also discovered it was diagnosing woman with breast cancer
> who would have survived without treatment, meaning they were
> undergoing unnecessary chemotherapy, radiotherapy or mastectomies.
>
> About a fifth of cancers picked up by screening are in the milk ducts
> of the breast.
>
> Some of these cancers will progress while others will not - but there
> is no way of predicting what will happen.
>
> This means women and doctors have to decide whether or not to risk
> doing nothing, or go ahead with treatment which might be unnecessary.
>
> They also revealed a further 200 women out of every 2,000 experienced
> distress and anxiety because of false positives - a result that
> indicated a cancer was present but was later found to be wrong.
>
> Lead researcher Dr Peter Gotzsche, of the Nordic Cochrane Centre,
> said: "Women invited to screening should be fully informed of both
> benefits and harm.
>
> "When screening advocates and their organisations produce information
> materials, they generally emphasise the benefits and omit information
> on the major harms. This needs to be corrected to ensure that women
> can give genuinely informed consent before joining a screening
> programme."
>
> In 2001, the same authors concluded there was no convincing evidence
> that screening programmes reduce mortality from the disease.
>
> NICE referral?
>
> Michael Baum, professor of surgery at university college London who
> set up one of England's first screening programme in 1987, told the
> Daily Telegraph: "This latest evidence shifts the balance even further
> towards harm and away from benefits.
>
>
> The benefits of breast screening far outweigh the risks
> Julietta Patnick, director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes
>
> "If this report stands up, the NHS screening programme should be
> referred to the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence
> to decide whether it should be closed down."
>
> But a spokesman for the Department of Health said that, as mammography
> was an accepted, evidence-based technology, it would not be
> appropriate to refer the screening programme to NICE."
>
> And Professor John Toy, medical director of Cancer Research UK, said:
> "Researchers in the field all agree that breast screening saves lives
> although they differ in their views about the balance of the pros and
> cons.
>
> "Benefits need to be balanced against any disadvantages, as is the
> case with all medical treatments.
>
> "Certainly women invited for screening should be made aware of both
> potential benefits and downsides - such as possible initial
> mis-diagnosis.
>
> "But overall we continue to encourage UK women to participate in the
> NHS Breast Screening Programme."
>
> Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer said:
> "When early changes are picked up by screening it is not currently
> possible to predict whether or not they will progress and so treatment
> is usually offered to prevent breast cancer from developing.
>
> "It's important women are given clear information about their
> treatment options. Early detection saves lives. Women over 50 should
> not be discouraged from taking up their screening appointments."
>
> And Julietta Patnick director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes
> said: "The programme saves 1,400 lives every year. Women who are
> screened are also less likely to have a mastectomy than those who are
> not screened.
>
> "For lives to be saved breast screening must detect cancers in the
> early stages. The benefits of breast screening far outweigh the risks
> and I would strongly encourage all women to make an informed choice to
> attend for screening when invited."
>
> Story from BBC NEWS:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/...lth/6061652.stm
>
> Published: 2006/10/18 09:52:18 GMT
>
> © BBC MMVI
I guess this is going to upset a lot of people.
|