Women who skip their first breast cancer screening appointment are 40% more likely to die from the disease, according to new research from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, tracked around 500,000 women who received their first screening invitation between 1991 and 2020. Almost one in three (32%) did not attend their initial mammogram, and those women were less likely to attend future screenings, more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and had a significantly higher mortality rate.
Researchers found 9.9 breast cancer deaths per 1,000 women over 25 years among those who skipped the first screening, compared with seven deaths per 1,000 in women who attended. However, overall breast cancer incidence was similar between groups, suggesting that delayed detection rather than higher risk of developing cancer explained the increased mortality.
US experts commenting on the findings said attending a first screening appointment was “far more than a short-term health check” and should be seen as a long-term investment in survival.
In England, women are invited for breast screening from age 50 to 71, with the first invitation sent by 53. NHS data shows only 70% of eligible women were up to date as of March 2024, meaning almost one in three were not screened. Claire Rowney, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, called the number of missed appointments “worryingly high” and urged action to improve accessibility.
The study comes as global cancer cases are projected to rise 61% in the next 25 years to 30.5 million, with annual deaths forecast to hit 18.6 million by 2050. Researchers say 42% of cancer deaths are linked to preventable risks such as smoking, poor diet, high blood sugar and exposure to toxins.
In a hopeful development, scientists also reported progress against pancreatic cancer. A team found that blocking a protein called SPP1 could stop pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the deadliest and most common form of the disease, from spreading. The discovery could pave the way for new targeted drug treatments to improve survival.
