Report From The Ministerial Task Force On Breast Cancer In Women And Gynaecological Cancer To The Minister Of Health

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

The information already available from the principal overseas trials led us to conclude that deaths from breast cancer in women aged 50-64 years who are offered screening by mammography can be reduced by one third or more. Highquality single medio-lateral oblique view mammography has been shown to be an effective method in reducing mortality from breast cancer and we conclude that initially this is the preferred option for the development of mass population screening. The priority of any screening programme should be given to offering an initial screen to as many women as possible aged between 50-64 years. The assessment of screen-detected abnormalities requires specialized techniques. The manpower implications for radiologists and radiographers are critical to the introduction of a screening programme. The estimates for cost per life-year or cost per QALY gained for breast cancer screening are not dissimilar to other health service activities currently undertaken. We estimate that the annual revenue cost to the NHS in the UK for running a screening service is about 18 million pound (1985-86 prices). Determining the optimum interval for screening must have high priority for research.