Effect of implementation of the mass breast cancer screening programme in older women in the Netherlands: population based study

摘要

The extension of the upper age limit for mammography screening to 75 years has led to only a small decrease in the incidence of advanced stage breast cancer, whereas the incidence of early stage tumours has strongly increased. The benefit of breast cancer screening in older women has not been proved, as previous randomised trials rarely included women over the age of 60 years. This study showed that the effect of the screening programme in older women is limited and may lead to overdiagnosis.