[Population screening for breast cancer: between euphoria and scepticism]

Forty years after the first mammograms were made, doubts are cast on the effectiveness of population screening for breast cancer. Disease-specific and overall mortality appear to have diminished, but any real effect is small. Proponents of breast cancer screening point at the possibility of saving lives and at the obligation to do so, whereas opponents emphasise that the screening may do more harm than good and that the large funds involved might be better spent in other health care areas. If the experts cannot decide on the effectiveness, simply leaving the choice of whether or not to take part up to citizens offers no solution. These complex health care matters require complex answers, which have to be found before any population screening for cancer of prostate, colon or lung can be implemented.