Public Health Agency welcomes breast screening review
The Public Health Agency (PHA) today welcomed the announcement that Professor Sir Mike Richards (National Cancer Director) will undertake a review of the evidence underpinning breast screening.
The review is being carried out by Professor Richards himself, in partnership with Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, and will analyse all relevant research to breast screening. Once the review has been undertaken, the findings will be presented to experts from each side of the argument, including the Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening. The review report is expected in early 2012.
Dr Adrian Mairs, Consultant in Public Health, PHA and Quality Assurance Director for the Northern Ireland Breast Screening Programme said: “We welcome this review announced by Professor Richards. The NHS Breast Screening Programme has always been based on the best and latest evidence. The best available evidence shows that screening saves lives by detecting cancers earlier than they would otherwise have been.
“I would encourage all women who are invited for breast screening to attend. I would also encourage women over the age of 70 to contact their local breast screening unit to ensure they can continue to attend for breast screening. Breast screening remains the best way we have of detecting breast cancer at an early stage when treatment can be more effective and less complicated.”
Dr Mairs added: “We look forward to the findings of this latest review."
Contact the PHA Press Office on 028 9031 1611.
In Northern Ireland eligible women aged 50-70 are invited for breast screening every three years. Women who are older than 70 are encouraged to contact their local breast screening unit to arrange an appointment every three years.