244: breast cancer screening a resounding success

Some tremendously good news today, about the survival prospects of women suffering from breast cancer. As today's linked article from the BBC reports, a recent audit in the UK showed that a majority of women who had their cancer detected early through screening had the same average lifespan as women without breast cancer. Indeed, even women whose cancer was detected later through screening - i.e. when it was more developed or aggressive - had excellent survival rates, with 86% of women still alive 15 years later. Breast cancer screening is such a simple thing (if a little painful!). And this new evidence really underlines what a huge difference it can make. It's important to stress that it's no panacea - what is? - as many cancers are not detected through screening. But it's definitely good news, not least since it may encourage more women to go for screening in the first place. (Photo from BBC online.)