Health Update: The older the better

BREAST screening in women over 65 picks up more than twice as many cancers as screening in younger women, according to the latest figures from the National Breast Screening Programme. The figures for 1992/93, released this month, are being used by specialists to show that screening, which is currently offered to women aged 50 to 64, should be extended to the older age group. They showed that for every 1,000 women over 65 who referred themselves for screening, 14 were found to have cancer, compared with just six per 1,000 in women aged 50 to 64.