Experts shun mammogram study

Australian breast cancer experts have rejected claims by Canadian researchers that mammograms are a waste of time in women aged under 60.

The University of Toronto study of 89,000 women aged in their 40s and 50s found mammograms had no more benefit than a formal physical examination, with similar numbers of women diagnosed with breast cancer or dying from the disease in those screened compared with those unscreened.

Also, 22 per cent of the abnormalities found by screening were harmless. BreastScreen WA medical director Liz Wylie said the Canadian study had been criticised because of questions over how the mammograms were done and reported.

Cancer Council WA director of education and research Terry Slevin said the Canadian study had limited value.