The effect of the Flemish breast cancer screening program on breast cancer-specific mortality : a case-referent study

Abstract: Background: Breast cancer screening programs were introduced in many countries worldwide following ran-domized controlled trials in the 1980s showing a reduction in breast cancer-specific mortality. However, their effectiveness remains debated and estimates vary. A breast cancer screening program was introduced in 2001 in Flanders, Belgium where high levels of opportunistic screening practices are observed. The effectiveness of this program was estimated by measuring its effect on breast cancer-specific mortality. Methods: We performed a case-referent study to investigate the effect... Mehr ...