10/01/2025
Women who miss 1st breast cancer screening much likelier to die from disease
Women who miss their initial breast cancer screening exam are much likelier to die from the disease, according to new research published Wednesday.
Mammography remains the most effective tool for early detection of breast cancer, with previous studies proving its ability to reduce late-stage diagnoses and mortality. However, a knowledge gap exists regarding the long-term implications of early screening behaviors and particularly participating in the first screening visit, experts detail in The BMJ.
European researchers recently aimed to close this gap, assessing data from nearly 433,000 women invited to take part in the Swedish Mammography Screening Program between 1991 and 2020. They found that those who did not participate in the first screening had a 40% higher breast cancer mortality risk than others, a finding that persisted over 25 years.
Researchers believe this indicates that the elevated death risk “likely reflects delayed detection, rather than increased incidence.”
“Critically, our results underscore that passive invitation policies, which do not include reminders or follow-up for nonattendees, leave first screening nonparticipants largely untouched and therefore disproportionately exposed to excess breast cancer mortality,” the authors advised. “Randomized trials have shown that simple, low-cost interventions—such as automatically scheduling a second, fixed-date appointment or offering brief telephone coaching—can markedly improve mammography screening among nonparticipants. By showing that first screening nonparticipants represent a persistently disengaged group with a 40% higher risk of breast cancer mortality, our study provides the essential justification for integrating these proactive strategies into routine mammography screening practice.”
The increased risk of mortality is modifiable, experts believe, and likely attributed to late detection of the disease.
