Breast cancer mammogram: Women who skip their first breast screening appointment face a 40% higher risk of dying from breast cancer, according to a nationwide study from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute published in the BMJ. Researchers tracked about 500,000 women invited to their first mammogram between 1991 and 2020, following them for up to 25 years.
After adjusting for social, economic, reproductive, and health factors, the team found that 32% of participants did not attend their initial appointment. Over 25 years, breast cancer mortality was 9.9 per 1,000 among non-attenders versus 7.0 per 1,000 among women who were screened. Non-attenders were also less likely to return for later screens and more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage.
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Importantly, the overall rate of developing breast cancer over 25 years was similar in both groups, pointing to delayed detection, not higher incidence, as the driver of excess deaths. The authors write that early screening behaviour may flag higher-risk populations decades in advance, offering a window for targeted outreach.
In an accompanying editorial, US commentators said a woman’s first mammogram is “more than a short-term health check”: even when no cancer is found, the visit provides risk information and symptom awareness that can act as a long-term investment in breast health.
Separate projections in The Lancet warn the annual global cancer death toll could rise ~75% to 18.6 million by 2050, with new cases up 61% to 30.5 million, largely due to population growth and ageing. Researchers estimate 42% of cancer deaths are linked to modifiable risks such as smoking, unhealthy diet, high blood sugar and toxin exposure.
