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Written question asked by Elliot Colburn (Conservative) on Monday, 11 March 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 March 2024. It was answered by Andrew Stephenson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing (a) a risk assessment and (b) a breast density assessment during a women's first breast cancer screening appointment.

Answer

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) plans to review the evidence for risk stratification in breast screening, to tailor it more closely to an individual’s risk of cancer, rather than the current population-based approach.

In 2019, the UK NSC reviewed the benefit of additional screening with ultrasound after a negative mammography screening, for women with dense breasts. The Committee concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend additional ultrasound screening at that time.

The Breast Screening Risk Adaptive Imaging for Density trial is looking into the use of supplementary imaging techniques for women within the standard breast screening programme, who are found to have radiographically dense breast tissue. The UK NSC will review this evidence when it becomes available.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
17984
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Breast cancer Screening
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk