Breast cancer screening effective, say cancer experts

Breast cancer screening is effective and the benefits outweigh potential risks, experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have said. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, provides an update of the 2002 IARC Handbook on Breast Cancer Screening in light of recent improvements in treatment and new data on screening practices. The experts said there is sufficient evidence to support mammography screening, as it is effective in reducing breast cancer mortality for women aged 50–69 years, and that the benefit of reduced mortality extends to women screened at age 70–74 years. However, evidence