Breast check scan ‘is justified’ despite number of harmless tumours, says cancer expert

An Irish cancer expert insists there is still “clear justification” for breast screening, even though a study found that it resulted in one third of patients being treated for harmless tumours.

A Danish study of women aged 50 to 69, found that one in three tumours and early cancer cell clusters found in the milk ducts are over-diagnosed.

It suggests that the benefits of breast cancer screening have been overstated and it can lead to patients having unnecessary surgery and harmful treatment.