1 in 3 women may be receiving treatment for breast cancer 'needlessly'

This is according to the results of a survey reported in the British Medical Journal on 10th July 2009, by a team from the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Denmark. The story was reported widely, including in a number of newspapers and in the BBC online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8143564.stm
The results of the survey suggested that up to one in three breast cancers detected by screening may be harmless and that while screening[1] may lead to earlier detection of lethal cancers, it is also detecting harmless ones for which women are receiving needless and (in some cases) gruelling treatment.
However, as can be seen from the report, a number of health professionals are concerned that the study has not only been “…selective in the statistics that it used…”, but also that it may deter women from attending screening which is estimated to save up to 1400 lives a year.
Dr Sarah Cant from Breast Cancer Care said:
“Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to predict which cancers found through screening will develop aggressively and which will grow very slowly” She added: “Based on all the current evidence, we believe the benefits of detecting breast cancer still outweigh the risks.”

[1] The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every three years for all women in the UK aged 50 and over. Around one-and-a-half million women are screened in the UK each year. Women aged between 50 and 70 are now routinely invited.