Study links missing early breast cancer screening to higher risk

Women who miss their first breast cancer screening appointment have a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, according to a new study.

- Andrew Gregory Health editor

Experts at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden analysed data for about half a million women across Sweden, with the findings published in the British Medical Journal. The women all received their first screening invitation between 1991 and 2020 and were monitored for up to 25 years.

After taking into account social, economic, reproductive, and health-related factors, the researchers found almost one in three (32%) did not attend their first mammogram appointment.

Not attending a first screening was linked with a significantly higher risk of breast cancer death - 9.9 deaths per 1,000 women over 25 years - compared with seven in those screened.