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Experts Call for the Routine Testing for Women of All Ages

Posted on: Wednesday, 18 May 2005, 06:00 CDT

Breast cancer survivors and specialists in the region last night called on the Government to make routine screening available to women under the age of 50.

The demands came after singer Kylie Minogue announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36.

Traditionally, mammograms have not been offered to young women because their tissue is too dense to detect cancer, but new research released yesterday showed MRI screening is successful at picking it up.

Now doctors are calling for the young women most at risk to undergo a double screening programme.

In the North-East, around 270 women a year under 50 are diagnosed with breast cancer, one in every five of cases diagnosed in the region.

Yesterday, Tom Lennard, consultant surgeon at the RVI and head of Newcastle University's school of surgical and reproductive services, said: "The first thing to say is we want to avoid mass panic among young women.

"Kylie is only 36 and breast cancer is very uncommon in women her age. It's most common in women over the age of 50."

Prof Lennard referred many young women being treated at the RVI to the MRI research programme, published in The Lancet medical journal, which showed a 94% breast cancer detection rate for MRI scanners compared to 40% for mammograms.

He added: "We had more women from our region taking part in this than from anywhere else in the country. And, now that we've got the results back showing significant findings about detection rates, then double scanning has got to be the way forward for those identified as being at high risk of breast cancer."

He said he did not believe there was a need for other young women to be screened, but would encourage "everyone to be breast aware".

But yesterday, Val Pesarra, 44, from Humshaugh, near Hexham, who was diagnosed with cancer when she was 31, said screening should be available to everyone, regardless of age.

"You get smear tests for cervical cancer from an early age every three years, although that's not often enough. And the principle should be the same for breast cancer, with those at a high risk screened more regularly," said Val, who underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

School support worker Amanda Bland from North Tyneside, defied medical prediction by giving birth to Angus last October, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 30.

"In my position, of course I'm going to say there should be better screening," said Amanda, now 36. "I know it's about cost implications for the NHS, but I would urge anyone who is worried to go private if they can."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information for Cancer Research UK, said: "We wish Kylie all the best for her forthcoming treatment and a speedy recovery. Less than 4% of breast cancer patients are aged between 35 and 39.

"But, by being breast aware, women have a better chance of discovering the disease at an early stage ( the stage Kylie's disease is at."

Source: The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

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