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Editor’s note: The efficacy of mammographic screening in reducing breast cancer-related mortality has been clearly demonstrated in randomized controlled trials. Screening also improves the outcomes of diagnosed cancers, which are detected earlier allowing more effective treatment. With an effective screening program, the population statistics for breast cancer mortality in the age groups invited for screening would be expected to decline approximately 7–10 years after the start of the program. Furthermore, as breast cancer incidence rates are highly sensitive to mass screening, a transient increase in the incidence and a shift toward more early stage, microinvasive, and
in situ cancers would be expected.