Mammograms do not reduce breast cancer deaths

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Sunday, January 08, 2017 10:38 am Email this article

In Denmark, 20% of women get mammograms and 80% do not.

In areas of the country where the women got mammograms, breast cancer deaths fell by 1% per year over a 10 year period (1997-2006) among women who were 55-74 years-old, but in areas where women do not get mammograms, breast cancer deaths fell by 2% per year, twice as much as in the screened areas!

In other words, breast cancer deaths fell twice as much in areas of Denmark where women do not get mammograms compared to areas where women do get mammograms!

Among women who were 35-55 years-old, breast cancer mortality during 1997- 2006 declined 5% per year in the screened areas and 6% per year in the non-screened areas.

In other words, this study shows that mammograms do not reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer.

Reference

Jorgensen KJ, Zahl PH, and Gotzsche PC. Breast cancer mortality in organised mammography screening in Denmark: comparative study. BMJ, 2010 Mar 23; 340: c1241.

Author’s Contact Info

K. J. Jorgensen
The Nordic Cochrane Centre
Rigshospitalet
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Cancer, Breast

• Doctor - Peter Gøtzsche, MD

• Mammography