HEALTHCARE expert Peter Gotzsche claims the UK’s breast cancer screening programme damages more lives than it saves.
He told a government review the screenings were producing results of over-diagnosed cancers and, for every woman’s life saved, another 10 were harmed by unnecessary medical intervention.
Prof Gotzsche, of the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent organisation investigating the effects of health care, believes the programme should stop.
He said: “We don’t think a screening programme is justified. Recent research has not found an effect on breast cancer mortality, whereas it’s clear the programme leads to harm because many healthy women get a cancer diagnosis that doesn’t help,” he said.
“Screening detects a lot of cancers that are not dangerous. But many are treated by a mastectomy. Women have been seriously misinformed throughout 30 years. It’s a scandal.”
About two million women are screened every year in the UK with about 48,000 diagnosed with breast cancer, according to Cancer Research UK. The independent review into breast cancer screening was launched just over a year ago and has taken evidence from various groups, as well as examining studies and research.
It is due to report back on Tuesday.