¹Finnish Cancer Registry, Helsinki, Finland

Correspondence: Dr T Sarkeala, Finnish Cancer Registry, Liisankatu 21 B, 00170 Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: tytti.sarkeala@cancer.fi

Received 4 October 2007; Revised 19 December 2007; Accepted 2 January 2008; Published online 29 January 2008.

Abstract

We examined the effect of different invitational policies on the reduction of breast cancer mortality at 60–79 years of age within the Finnish mammography programme in 1992–2003, which varied in its coverage at 60–69 years of age. The data from 260 municipalities were grouped into three categories: regular invitations at 50–59 years of age only, regular invitations at 50–69 years of age, and regular invitations at 50–59 years of age with irregular invitations at 60–69 years of age. Observed deaths from breast cancer were compared to those expected without screening among all women and among the screened and non-screened women. Observed deaths were obtained from population data and from a cohort follow-up in 1992–2003. Expected deaths were derived by modelling breast cancer mortality at population level in 1974–1985 and 1992–2003. The reduction in breast cancer mortality was strongest, 28% (0.72, 0.51–0.97), in municipalities with regular invitations at 50–69 years of age. No overall effect at 60–79 years of age was observed with regular invitations at 50–59 years of age. The study confirms a reduction by screening of breast cancer mortality in Finland. Uniform extension of invitations to 60–69 years of age would increase the number of prevented breast cancer deaths among the elderly.