Editor's Choice
Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;��Radiology / Nuclear Medicine;��MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Article Date: 02 May 2011 - 14:00 PDT email to a friend � printer friendly � opinions �
Current Article Ratings:
Patient / Public: | 2 (4 votes) | |
Healthcare Prof: | 1 (1 votes) |
Breast cancer survival rates may be undermined by a recommendation not to routinely screen females aged from 40 to 49 years using mammograms, two new studies have revealed. The USPSTF (US Preventative Services Task Force) had made this recommendation in November 2009.
University of Colorado researchers say the number of annual mammograms performed for women of that age have dropped, possibly negatively impacting on the benefits of prompt detection.
Since USPSTF's recommendations, there has been a considerable fall in the number of screenings using mammograms for women aged 40-49, lead researcher Dr. Lara Hardesty explained.
In another study, Dr. Donna Plecha and team from the University Hospitals at Case Medical Center carried out a retrospective review to find out what the potential impact might be of skipping screening mammograms.
Dr. Plecha said:
"These guidelines greatly concerned us, especially for our patients and primary physicians. We know that when patients are screened earlier, they have a better prognosis for detection and treatment."
The team found that 108 cases of cancer were diagnosed from 524 biopsies. Cancer diagnoses among 40-49-year-old women who had undergone screening mammography occurred at a much earlier stage of the disease compared to women of the same age who had not undergone screening.
If GPs (general practitioners, primary care physicians) follow USPSTF's recommendations, breast cancer survival rates among these women will drop, Dr. Plecha believes.
Dr. Plecha said:
"70% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer don't have a family history of breast cancer. It's very important that we continue to do all that we can to catch breast cancer in the earliest stages so that we can continue to save lives."
Dr. Hardesty said:
"We must continue to get the message out to our patients and make sure that referring providers understand our recommendations because they are the ones who are influencing patients in that age group."
Both team leaders presented their findings today at the American Roentgen Ray Society Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Source: American Roentgen Ray Society
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Please rate this article: (Hover over the stars then click to rate) | Patient / Public: | or | Health Professional: |
Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.
Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.
All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)
Contact Our News Editors
For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.
Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:
Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, UK
MediLexicon International Ltd � 2004-2011 All rights reserved.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/223918.php
womens health vitamins women reproductive health issues women health check up women to women health care women health and fitness
No comments:
Post a Comment