Breast cancer screening works: study

Screening for breast cancer in older women could save up to 34 lives a year, says an Otago University study.

Screening women aged 50-69 should result in 20-34 fewer breast cancer deaths a year, an overall reduction of 5.7 to 8 per cent, a Dunedin School of Medicine survey found.

Beginning screening at 45 instead of 50 should prevent an additional one to seven deaths.

Study author Associate Professor Brian Cox said the overall effect of screening was "modest as the reduction was confined to just a few age groups". He said the results showed the need for better screening methods to increase participation in the free service.