Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the UK with an estimated 80% of which occur in women over the age of 50. Across the world, one in 20 of us will receive a diagnosis at some stage in their lifetime. The good news? New research, published in the British Medical Journal, suggests there is one easy step that cuts mortality rate risks dramatically.<\/p>\n
The study tracked nearly half a million women who received their first invitations to the Swedish Mammography Screening Programme between 1991 and 2020. Almost a third, it found, did not attend that initial screening. While the 25-year breast cancer diagnosis rate was similar between groups (those who attended their first screening and those who didn\u2019t), the latter group were more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer<\/a>. <\/p>\n In fact, over the course of 25 years, the group who didn\u2019t attend their first screening were 40% more likely to die of the disease. An editorial linked to the study noted that \u2018ensuring that women are informed, supported and empowered to participate in their first screening should be a shared goal across the healthcare system\u2019.<\/p>\n What to read next<\/p>\n Mammograms are X-ray examinations of the breast used to detect breast cancer and other diseases, and this is not the first research to highlight their importance. Still, \u2018the new Swedish research really is a powerful reminder of just how life saving that first mammogram can be,\u2019 says Dr Vikram Murthy, GP and co-founder of the Harley St clinic Murthy Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n Why is that first appointment so crucial? <\/p>\n \u2018It provides a baseline image for the future and, just as importantly, gets women into the routine of regular screening,\u2019 says Dr Murthy. Indeed, the study found that not attending your first screening was linked to non-attendance at future screenings. Going to your first, it suggests, gets you into the habit of taking your breast health<\/a> seriously. <\/p>\n As its accompanying editorial pointed out, \u2018patients should discuss their individual risk factors, including family history and genetic predisposition, with their healthcare providers\u2026. This study highlights that the decision to attend that first appointment is far more than a short term health check \u2014 it is a long-term investment in breast health and survival.\u2019<\/p>\n So when should you be screened?<\/p>\n