Women who miss their first breast cancer screening appointment have a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, a major new study has revealed.
Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute analysed data from about 500,000 women invited to their first screening between 1991 and 2020, tracking them for up to 25 years. Published in the British Medical Journal, the study found that 32% did not attend their first mammogram.
Those who skipped it were more likely to miss subsequent appointments, be diagnosed with advanced cancer, and ultimately face a breast cancer mortality rate of 9.9 deaths per 1,000 women, compared with seven per 1,000 among those screened.
While overall cancer incidence was similar between groups, the findings suggest delayed detection explains the higher death risk. Researchers said early attendance could help identify women at risk decades before serious outcomes occur.
US experts responding in a linked editorial described the first screening as “far more than a short-term health check”, noting that even without a diagnosis, women gain vital information about prevention and early warning signs.
In England, women are invited for screening between the ages of 50 and 71, with all expected to have a first mammogram by 53. But NHS data shows almost one in three eligible women were not up to date as of March 2024.
Claire Rowney, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said the study highlighted the need for urgent action: “A worryingly high number of women miss their first appointment. Screening must be encouraged and made easily accessible.”
The findings come as global research forecasts cancer deaths to rise by nearly 75% to 18.6 million by 2050, driven by ageing populations and lifestyle risks such as smoking and poor diets.
In more positive developments, UK scientists have identified a potential drug target for pancreatic cancer. Blocking a protein known as SPP1 could stop the spread of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma – the most aggressive form of the disease – and extend survival, according to research published in Nature.
Professor Axel Behrens of the Institute of Cancer Research said the next step is to develop medicines that can precisely target the protein: “We hope this can prevent cancer spreading and keep patients living well for longer.”
