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Letter: The advantages of breast screening

Mrs Julietta Patnick
Friday 17 July 1992 23:02 BST
Comments

Sir: In response to your article of 'Screening may spread cancer cells' (11 July), I would like to make a few points about the NHS Breast Screening Programme, which screens one million women a year and detected more than 4,000 breast cancers last year.

Compression of the breast during a breast X-ray (mammogram) is essential in order to get a clear picture and to keep the breast in place. If the breast is not properly compressed, the picture is of such poor quality as to be practically useless. Compressing the breast also means less radiation is used.

It is stated that 'there has been no attempt to standardise the force used for a mammogram'. It would be impossible to use a standard force, because all breasts are different, varying not only in size, but also in consistency of tissue. The amount of pressure needed can even differ from one breast to the other on the same woman. Breasts withstand and require different degrees of pressure, and radiographers use the appropriate amount while causing as little discomfort as possible. There is, however, a recommended limit of 20kg.

It is also suggested 'that the risks have never been properly assessed'. The disadvantages of having a mammogram, including the putative spread of a tumour (which is not proven), the effects of radiation, and discomfort, have to be weighed against not having a mammogram at all or having an inadequate one. The latter would mean women being exposed to radiation without having the benefits of the X-ray.

I would remind your readers that women who do come for screening have their risk of dying from breast cancer reduced by 40 per cent. I would encourage all women to accept our invitation.

Yours sincerely,

J. PATNICK

National Co-ordinator

NHS Breast Screening Programme

Sheffield

13 July

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