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Making Up Your Mind About MammogramsControversy notwithstanding, women 40 and older should have an annual mammogram.
THE NEWS
The debate surrounding annual mammograms flared up again recently after authors reporting in the October 20, 2001, Lancet concluded that the breast-cancer screening technique does not save lives. The authors suggested further that early detection of breast abnormalities via mammography often leads to �overtreatment� of slow-growing tumors that aren�t likely to seriously endanger patients.
Based on their assessments of study methods, the authors classified data quality from seven previous mammography trials as medium, poor, or flawed (none met the authors� criteria for high quality). They reached their conclusions after discarding data from the two studies they deemed flawed and comparing findings from the two �medium� trials with those from the three trials they perceived as �poor.�
HealthNews has consistently encouraged women 40 and older to get annual mammograms. Should we now reconsider that advice?
Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot Tentang NAGA2000 slot � The EditorsTHE PHYSICIAN�S PERSPECTIVE
Holly G. Atkinson, MD
EditorNot yet. Few if any breast cancer experts in the US are suggesting that we give up routine mammography on the basis of these findings. The American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute are still urging women 40 and older to get regular screening mammograms.
The recent Lancet study is a follow-up to one published last year. In this latest analysis, the researchers stand by their earlier conclusions, but critics remain skeptical about the contention that mammograms do not prevent women from dying of breast cancer.
Controversies like this will continue to erupt because no single study, no matter how well crafted, can definitively resolve such a complex diagnostic dilemma. The five studies the researchers considered �flawed� or �poor� showed that mammogram screening is beneficial. The two remaining studies revealed no apparent survival benefit. But many breast-cancer experts say that all seven studies were methodologically valid and that mammography is useful.
Despite the criticisms, this second analysis does deserve consideration, so the National Cancer Institute is asking a panel of independent experts to review its findings. HealthNews will keep you apprised of any further twists. In the meantime, women should not spurn mammograms. There is widespread agreement that appropriate treatment for breast abnormalities uncovered by mammography does save lives.
