Study highlights risk of missing first mammogram

A Swedish study has found that women who skip their first mammogram have a 40 percent higher risk of dying from breast cancer. The research, conducted by the Karolinska Institutet, was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on September 24, 2025, and involved tracking over 430,000 women for 25 years.

Missed screening linked to later diagnosis

Women who declined their first mammogram were less likely to attend future screenings. They were also more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer after symptoms appeared and more likely to have cancers detected at an advanced stage.

Mortality rate difference observed

The study found that nearly 1 percent of women who did not participate in the first screening died from breast cancer. In contrast, only 0.7 percent of women who participated in the initial screening died from the disease.

Emphasis on early detection

The findings underscore the importance of early detection through organized screening programs. Researchers suggest that participating in the first mammogram can significantly improve survival chances by catching breast cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage.