Mammographic Screening for Breast Cancer – Who, When, and Why?
Mammography for screening of women older than 35-40 years of age was considered a no-brainer for many years and was advocated by all of the major support
Mammographic Screening for Breast Cancer – Who, When, and Why?
Mammography for screening of women older than 35-40 years of age was considered a no-brainer for many years and was advocated by all of the major support groups. Screening mammograms have always been felt to decrease the chances of dying from breast cancer by as high as 30% and when state governments have implemented stronger screening programs after approximately 10 years, mortality from breast cancer has decreased. Breast cancers discovered by mammography are smaller and of lower stages when compared to those cancers discovered on examination by patients or their doctors.
Recently more scrutiny has been applied to routine screening and its opponents have become more vocal. The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) created a huge stir by suggesting the literature recommended screening with mammography for women between the ages of 50 and 74 be changed to every two years, selective screening before age 50 years, and no obvious benefit for older women. Switzerland upped the ante by not recommending mammographic screening at all (although I’ve heard it is still common for women there to do so).
The problem with mammograms (other than the discomfort) is that they are only 80% sen