Annual breast cancer checks for higher risk women 'would save lives'

Such a move could save about 50 lives a year and offer many more peace of mind, said Professor Stephen Duffy, one of Britain's top cancer screening experts.

Currently all women aged 50 to 70 are offered a mammogram every three years under the NHS's Breast Screening Programme.

But Prof Duffy, of the Wolfson Institute for Preventative Medicine in London, said there was now strong evidence that those with a moderate or strong family history of breast cancer should be offered annual mammograms from age 40.