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Regular breast screening using mammography is the best way to detect early breast cancers| as they are often more successfully treated.
Large research trials estimate that breast screening can help reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by 15%. However, as well as helping to save lives there are some potential disadvantages| to breast screening.
In women who have breast screening, most cancers are found at an early stage when there is a good chance that treatment will be successful. In the UK more than half of the breast cancers found through screening are discovered very early: when they are very small and haven't spread to the lymph nodes close to the breast.
Over 19 million women have had breast screening in the UK since the Breast Screening Programme was set up in 1988. In this time, it has found more than 117,000 cancers.
A report in 2006, by the Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening, indicated that screening saved 1,400 lives a year in England. Research by the International Association for Cancer Research has shown that for every 500 women who have breast screening one life will be saved.
Women who take part in breast screening reduce their risk of dying from breast cancer.
In women who have breast screening, cancer is more likely to be found early. This means that the cancer is likely to be small and there is more chance that it can be removed by a lumpectomy (removal of the lump) rather than needing a mastectomy (removal of the whole breast). Approximately 7 out of 10 (70%) women whose breast cancer is diagnosed by screening have breast conserving therapy, compared with 55% of women diagnosed outside the screening programme.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.
It is up to you whether you go for breast screening. It could help to find out the facts, which you can do by reading our cancer information team's blog in our online community. There, you can talk over your options with people who understand.