A five-year study, called Mammo-50, that followed women aged 50 and older with a breast cancer diagnosis and surgery has been published in The Lancet. This research, funded by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), shows that follow up surveillance with less frequent mammograms put the patients at no greater risk and could reduce the stress of waiting for results.

Led by Professor Janet Dunn, Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, The University of Warwick and sponsored by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, the Mammo-50 trial is the first major study to investigate the safest, most effective monitoring of women after surgery. Focusing on women aged 50 with early-stage breast cancer (that has not spread beyond breast tissue or local lymph nodes), the trial followed their progress across 114 NHS hospitals over five years.

Three years after breast surgery, 5,235 women, who were cancer-free at the point of enrolling in the study, were invited to either yearly or less-frequent mammograms (every two years for patients who had a lumpectomy and every three years for patients who had a mastectomy). The results show there is no difference between the groups of patients in terms of their breast cancer reoccurring or their survival.

Professor Janet Dunn said: “Less frequent mammographic surveillance decreases the inconvenience for women having to undergo unnecessary mammograms, reducing the associated stress of waiting for results whilst also reducing the strain on the NHS.”

Different cancer centres offer different forms of follow up, with no gold-standard guideline for monitoring women post-surgery. Mammo-50 is the first major study to look at this and present evidence that could be used to amend guidelines on mammographic surveillance for this patient group. Less frequent mammograms have the potential to reduce NHS costs and workload, and reduce stress for patients waiting for scan results.

UHCW Consultant Breast Surgeon Mr Hamed Khan said: “At UHCW we are committed to providing the best care for our patients based on evidence.

"We are proud to have been the co-sponsor for this important research which gives us direct evidence to advise what is best for the management of post-op patients.”

Mr Peter Donnelly, surgical lead investigator, says: “Mammography remains a key part of breast cancer survivorship, which includes confidence in self-examination, healthy lifestyle, adherence to hormone blocking therapy and easy access to professional support.”

Professor Andy Evans, radiological lead investigator, says: “The reduction in mammograms has a substantial impact on radiological services. The results of the trial should be implemented into clinical practice as there is no reason to continue to perform annual mammograms for these patients."

Margaret Grayson, independent patient on the oversight committee and member of Independent Cancer Patients’ Voice, says: “This is great news for patients as it reduces the visits to hospital and scans needed whilst still monitoring patients in an optimal way.”

The full paper is published in: The Lancet Volume 405, Issue 10476 p396-407 February 01, 2025

Supplementary: Supplementary appendix PDF

DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02715-6

ENDS

Notes to editors

The University of Warwick is one of the UK’s leading universities, marking its 60th anniversary in 2025. With over twenty-eight thousand students from 147 countries, it's currently ranked 9th in the UK by The Guardian University Guide. It has an acknowledged reputation for excellence in research and teaching, for innovation, and for links with business and industry. The recent Research Excellence Framework classed 92% of its research as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. The University of Warwick was awarded Midlands University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)

The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:

• Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
• Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
• Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
• Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
• Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
• Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.

NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.

 

For further information contact:

Heather Holve, Media & Communications Officer (Science), The University of Warwick Heather.Holve@Warwick.ac.uk / 07803 052441

Steven Box, Communications Officer, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, steven.box@uhcw.nhs.uk | Direct Line: 024 7696 5058 | Mobile: 07920 015224