TWO Craven women have responded to a controversial report that breast screening is a waste of time.

The claims by Danish researchers, highlighted in the medical journal The Lancet, have cast doubt that mammography screening saves lives.

But Christine Wild, of Greenway, Glusburn, knows for a fact that a routine mammogram she had at Steeton's Airedale Hospital detected a malignant lump which could not be felt from the breast surface.

"I was told that if I had waited until I could feel a lump it would have been too late and I would not be here now," said Mrs Wild.

Mrs Wild was only 44 when she had her treatment. She explained that even though routine examinations were carried out from the age of 50, she was on the screening programme earlier because her mum developed the disease in 1988 and died in 1990.

Mrs Wild has retired consultant surgeon Archie McAdam to thank for his diagnosis.

"I had a routine mammogram in 1992 which showed up a shadow. He organised needle biopsies which proved negative but he still wasn't happy. He then arranged surgery for me and found quite a large lump which was removed as well as all the cancerous cells and the lymph glands," she said.

But Mrs Wild had another problem to cope with. Four days before her operation she fell and both broke and dislocated her shoulder. However, she felt the operation too important to delay and went ahead.

"I really cannot speak too highly of breast screening. It certainly saved my live and I urge everyone who has the opportunity to get check-ups."

Because of the possible hereditary links to breast cancer, Mrs Wild's daughter, Caroline, who is just 32, has also joined the screening programme.

Also advocating the benefits of screening is Elizabeth Harrison, 46, of South View, Austwick. She and her husband are divisional officers of the Settle and Skipton branch of the St John Ambulance.

Mrs Harrison detected a lump last August which proved to be benign. However, a mammogram detected another lump behind her nipple which she didn't know about. This was malignant and she underwent a mastectomy in October.

"I am about a third of the way through my chemotherapy and feel well enough be able to return to work at Settle Co-op."

She adds: "You cannot describe the horror you feel when you find out you have cancer, as well as the guilt you feel in putting your family through such a lot of anguish.

"But I urge other women to take no notice of the negative claims and attend breast screening clinics. Screening, and the care given to me by Mr Hutchinson and his team, saved my life.

"I would like to say to any woman out there who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and finding it difficult to come to terms with it that I am more than willing to chat to them."

Both women have found that talking to others about the disease, particularly those who have gone through treatment, helps you to come to terms with it.

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