The British Department of Health has launched a review of the research that recently claimed that harms of breast cancer screening might outweigh its benefits.

The review has been initiated following a group of Danish researchers claimed that women undergoing NHS breast cancer screening were not made aware of the harms involved in over-diagnosis.

Danish researchers claimed that the harms of breast cancer screening might do more harm than good. They also suggested that breast screening information should be more balanced.

National Cancer Director Prof Sir Mike Richards, of the Department of Health, initiated the independent review of research evidence to confirm if the controversial claims over the worth of mammograms are true or not.

Obstetrician Susan Bewley from London-based King's College also believes that mammograms may not be as beneficial as NHS leaflets claims.

In an open letter she wrote that she the NHS leaflets exaggerated benefits of breast screening and didn’t speak about the risks.

In an open letter, published in the recent issue of the British Medical Journal, she said, "The oft-repeated statement that '1,400 lives a year are saved' has not been subjected to proper scrutiny. Even cancer charities use lower estimates."

Separately, a report published by the Wall Street Journal stated that annual lung screening doesn’t slash the number of lung cancer deaths.