QUESTION: With everyone on the band wagon, my question may seem naive, but I hope you will give it the attention I believe it deserves.
Does breast cancer screening really reduce deaths?
ANSWER: You bet.
It is a lifesaver.
Since breast cancer can be treated most successfully at its early stages with a high chance of cure, any method of early detection is bound to reduce deaths. Proof of this comes from a one study (and there are others) of more than 8,000 women who were screened and followed for more than 10 years.
One out of every seven women who had biopsies was found to have cancer, and about 10% with cancer died from the disease for an overall survival rate of better than 90%. Age and tumor size seem to be important factors in survival.
If you are under 50 years the survival rate is 84%, but if over 50 years the survival rate jumps to almost 95%, according to this study. Tumors 1 cm in diameter or smaller are less deadly than large ones.
The highest survival rate of almost 97% was in women whose tumors could not be felt at all but showed up on mammography. Older women also had a higher survival rate in cancers detected by mammography alone (no biopsy).
All of the 45 older women in this group were alive after 10 years compared to 88% of the younger women. These findings are not related to the type of treatment or to the skill of the physicians.
They simply reflect the results of routine screening, and point out just how important it is in saving lives.
I can't think of a better bandwagon to jump on than this one, because breast screening really saves lives.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
