Researchers at the Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands looked at breast cancer deaths from 2003 and found there was a steady decline in deaths from the disease in women aged 75 to 79 -- the age group where improvements in survival would be seen.

In fact, between 1986 and 1997, the average was 166 deaths per 100,000 women, while in 2006 it was 117 per 100,000 -- a fall of almost 30 per cent. "The reduction in breast cancer mortality shows that the screening has started to have a statistically significant effect," according to the study's lead author Jacques Fracheboud.

The study also showed that more women aged 70 to 74 were sent for further checks after screening, compared with those aged 50 to 69 -- and a higher proportion of the older age group were confirmed to have breast cancer.

"It is easier to find cancer in older women due to their breast tissue being less dense," the BBC News portal quoted Fracheboud as saying. But he added: "There is not necessarily an argument for continuing screening beyond 75 because many tumours found at this stage are slow-growing and may never reach the stage of causing a problem."

Welcoming the research, Alexis Willett of Breakthrough Breast Cancer said, "The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age, which is why we encourage all women over 50 to attend breast screening appointments when invited and for women over 70 to request their own appointment."