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A new study finds that mammography reduces the number
of deaths from breast cancer by far more than previously thought. According to the study,
regular screening mammograms reduce breast cancer mortality by 63%. Robert Smith, PhD,
Director of Cancer Screening for the American Cancer Society and co-author of the study,
said that he hopes this new data will convince those women who are skeptical about
mammography that the exam can save their lives.
Healthcare professionals should tell women that receiving regular screening mammograms
beginning at age 40 can reduce their risk of dying from breast cancer by approximately
two-thirds, Dr. Smith told the audience at the American Cancer Society’s Science
Writers Seminar in April 2001. The reason that mammography saves lives is because the exam
detects cancer in its earliest stages, when the chances for
successful treatment and survival are the greatest. When breast cancer is detected in advanced stages, the survival rate is low (approximately 16%
of advanced breast cancer patients survive past five years).
Previous studies have found that mammograms reduce the breast cancer death rate by
approximately 30%. However, many of these studies were conducted in the 1970s and 1980s
when many women did not receive annual screening mammograms. The studies also did not take
into account that some of the women refused to get mammograms or that cancer was detected
in other women before they were offered screening mammograms.
This most recent study on mammography was conducted in two counties of Sweden that had
historically high rates of cancer screening (Dalarna and Ostegotland). In the study, women
between the ages of 40 and 69 received an invitation for a free mammogram every two years.
Those who did not respond received additional notices to further remind them. According to
Dr. Smith, those women who received regular screening mammography reduced their risk of
dying from breast cancer by 63% when compared to data from the 1970s, when women did not
typically receive screening mammograms. While part of the decline in deaths is due to
advances in breast cancer treatments, Dr. Smith said that mammography is responsible for
most of the reduction in breast cancer mortality since there was no significant trend of
increased survival among women who refused to have annual screening mammograms in the
study.
Unfortunately, the invitation system for mammograms in not possible in the United
States because the healthcare system is not centralized, said Dr. Smith. However, many
large HMOs have begun to send their eligible customers reminders to get annual mammograms.
Most insurance providers will cover the cost of mammography for eligible women, although
women should check with their insurance providers prior to scheduling the exam to be sure.
This latest study showing that mammograms drastically reduce breast cancer mortality
comes shortly after the United States Institute of Medicine released its report which
found mammography to still be the "gold standard" in breast cancer detection.
Mammography detects approximately 85% of all breast cancers and can detect cancer years
before a lump can be felt. However, because mammography misses approximately 15% of
cancers, women should also practice monthly breast self-exams and
receive regular physician-performed clinical breast
exams.
Guidelines for early breast cancer detection:
- All women between 20 and 39 years of age should practice monthly breast self-exams and
have physician performed clinical breast exams at least every three years.
- All women 40 years of age and older should have annual screening mammograms, practice
monthly breast self-exams, and have yearly clinical breast exams. The clinical breast exam
should be conducted close to and preferably before the scheduled mammogram.
- Younger women with a family or personal history of breast cancer should talk to their
physicians about beginning annual mammograms before age 40.
Additional Resources and References
- The study discussed in this article will be published in the May 1, 2001 issue of Cancer.
- The April 24, 2001 American Cancer Society News Today report, "Regular
Mammograms Substantially Reduces Breast Cancer Mortality," is available at http://www2.cancer.org/zine/index.cfm?fn=001_042420011_0
- The April 24, 2001 Associated Press report by Daniel Q. Haney, "Study Hails
Impact of Mammograms," is available within 30 days of publication at http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010424/hl/breast_cancer_2.html
- The March 14, 2001 Imaginis report, "Scientists Find Mammography is Still
"Gold Standard" for Breast Cancer Detection but Recommend Research into More
Accurate Methods," is available at http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news3.14.01.asp
- To learn more about mammography, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/mammography.asp
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