§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what support his Department is giving to mammography screening; to what extent such screening is successful in diagnosing breast cancer; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanThere is not yet sufficient evidence of the effectiveness of breast screening in reducing morbidity and mortality from breast cancer to justify the introduction of a national service. The health Departments are currently funding trials to obtain more information on the effectiveness and logistics of screening large populations of women. Two trials are concerned with screening by mammography and clinical examination and two with education in breast self-examination.