Recommendations made by the United States Preventive Services Task Force to screen women from the age of 40, annually.

Published 26th February, 2002

NHS Breast Screening Programmes's response:

Richard Winder Deputy National Coordinator of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes said:

"While we are pleased that the United States Preventive Services Task Force is continuing to recommend mammography as a 'strong and important tool in the early detection of breast cancer', we are interested in seeing the evidence that led to their recommendation to screen women from the age of 40."

"The NHS Breast Screening Programme has always been based on sound research evidence. We constantly review and examine the appropriateness of screening women under 50 and whether there is a need to alter the present screening interval. There are currently two trials examining both these issues - the age trial and the frequency trial."

"The age trial, which involves inviting 65,000 women aged 40 and 41 for breast screening will consider the benefit, if any, gained from screening younger women. Interim results of this study should be available in 2005."

"The frequency trial, involving 76,000 women, was set up to determine if screening should be repeated more often than the present three yearly interval. The results of this trial are due to be published shortly."

The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every three years, for all women in the UK aged 50 and over . Current estimates show that the NHS Breast Screening Programme saves 1,250 lives per year by screening women aged 50 and over