Breast cancer tumours ‘larger’ in overweight women
Cancerous breast lumps are less likely to be detected in overweight or obese women before the tumour becomes large, a Swedish study has found. These women may need more frequent mammograms to help spot early tumours, say researchers, but experts say more evidence is needed.
In the UK, women aged 50-70 are invited for screening every three years. Some women judged to be at higher risk of breast cancer are already offered more frequent screening. This might be a woman with a strong family history of breast cancer, for example.
Being overweight also increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, but it is not currently considered for setting breast screening intervals. Read more about the Obesity Risk and More Frequent Screenings: BBC News