Breast Cancer Screening: Your Guide To Health

Abstract

Mammography has consistently been proven to be an effective and safe method of screening women 50 and older for breast cancer. However, this study found that annual screening with mammography for women in their 40’s was not effective at reducing breast cancer mortality compared with women who undergo usual care with breast physical examination and breast self-examination. In general then, universal screening mammography for women in their 40’s should not be mandate, but rather an informed, personal decision between the physician and patient based on individual concerns, family history and acceptable risk/benefit profiles.