Study defends use of breast cancer screening

BREAST cancer screening saves the lives of two women for every one who receives potentially unnecessary treatment, new research suggests.

Experts are unable to distinguish between less harmful cancers and more aggressive types, meaning they are all routinely treated.

However, the research found 5.7 deaths were prevented for every 1,000 women screened, compared with overdiagnosis in 2.3 per 1,000 women.