Review of radiation risk in breast screening
Published February 2003 | ISBN 1 871997 99 2 | Archived
This review considers the risks and benefits of using ionising radiation to screen for breast cancer in the context of the NHS Breast Screening Programme. Estimates are made of the numbers of cancers detected by screening and the numbers of lives saved, and also of the number of lives lost owing to radiation-induced cancers. The ratio of lives saved to lost is calculated as a benefit-risk ratio of approximately 100:1. It is concluded that the current and proposed screening regimes in the NHSBSP are justified in radiation protection terms.
Report by a Joint Working Party of the NHSBSP National Coordinating Group for Physics Quality Assurance and the National Radiological Protection Board.
(ARCHIVED)
- NHSBSP home page
- Programme publications
- About breast screening
- What is breast screening?
- What does the NHS Breast Screening Programme do?
- What happens at a breast screening unit?
- Why are women under 50 not routinely invited?
- Are women screened over the age of 70?
- Screening women at higher risk
- Does breast screening save lives?
- Does breast screening have any risks?
- What is Digital Mammography?
- Research in breast screening
- About breast cancer
- Programme logistics
- Frequently asked questions
- Programme statistics
- Mammography equipment reports
- Programme news index
- Useful links