The long term follow up of a cohort of women invited to NHS breast screening

Nine-hundred and twenty-one cancers were identified after the first invitation to screening and 155 women died of breast cancer. Preliminary findings suggest that only 53% of women invited to four routine screens attend every screen. The incidence of breast cancer in non-attenders is low, but their survival is poor. In 443 women, cancers were detected at screening; 43 (10%) died of breast cancer. In 222 women, cancers were detected in the interval between screens; 49 (22%) died of breast cancer.