Extra breast screening could detect extra 3,500 cancers a year in UK, say Cambridge researchers

Improved breast screening in the UK could identify an extra 3,500 cancers per year and save hundreds of lives, researchers have said.

A Cambridge University-led study found that extra scans for some women can pick up early-stage cancers that remain “hidden” during regular mammograms, more than trebling cancer detection.

Louise Duffield, 60, from Ely, was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer as a result of taking part in the trial.

"I went in thinking I would help people, as previous research has, and as part of that process, I got a very very early diagnosis", said the grandmother of four.

"It was very very early and a complete shock", she added.

"It was something I never would have picked up through self-examination, but it meant I didn’t have quite as invasive surgery. I just had to have a duct removed and radiotherapy, so there was no mastectomy, no reconstruction and no chemotherapy, so I was very very lucky."

Researchers from the University of Cambridge are now calling for additional scans to be added to breast screening programmes for women who have very dense breasts.

The trial was carried out on 9,361 women who had a negative mammogram result, but it picked up an extra 85 cancers.

At the moment, because denser breasts look whiter on mammograms, the usual mammogram scan cannot pick up all cancers.

The two methods examined were contrast-enhanced mammography, where dye is used to make blood vessels more visible, and abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging, which is faster than a regular MRI.

The experts calculated that adding either of these methods to existing breast screening could detect an extra 3,500 cases per year in the UK.

As screening reduces death for about 20% of cancers detected, researchers suggest this could mean an extra 700 lives are saved each year.

Professor Fiona Gilbert, from the University of Cambridge and honorary consultant radiologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, led the study.

She said: “Getting a cancer diagnosis early makes a huge difference for patients in terms of their treatment and outlook.

“We need to change our national screening programme so we can make sure more cancers are diagnosed early, giving many more women a much better chance of survival.”

At the moment, the UK National Screening Committee does not recommend any additional imaging for women with dense breasts who have a negative result on a mammogram.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Research is being conducted into the use of additional tests for women with dense breasts, as part of the NHS breast screening programme.

“The UK National Screening Committee is reviewing this evidence as it becomes available.”

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