Age and sex can predict cancer risk in people referred with breast symptoms

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women globally.1 Improvements in breast cancer survival over several decades are partly attributed to population based breast screening programmes and rapid access to specialist diagnostic services for patients with breast symptoms. These facilitate diagnosis at early stages and prompt access to treatment. Even delays as short as a month in diagnosis and starting treatment can be associated with poorer outcomes.234Population based breast screening programmes have been the subject of much international comparison, investigation, and debate. However, less is known about the performance of healthcare services that assess women and men referred from primary care with symptoms that may indicate breast cancer, even though these services identify a large proportion of people with breast cancer. In England, six out of 10 people with breast cancer are diagnosed after referral with symptoms.5Services for breast symptoms are under increasing pressure. Over five million people with…
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