The World Health Organization has concluded that mammograms can prevent one in 500 women aged 50 to 69 from dying of breast cancer.
March 19, 2002
By Howard LeWine, M.D.
Harvard Medical School
How does this article relate to me?
This article lends supports to the life-saving benefits of mammography screening. However, for every 500 women ages 50 to 69, only one woman's life is saved from breast cancer death by having mammograms performed regularly. This means that as many as 10,000 mammograms may be needed to save that one life.
A closer look at data recently published in the international medical, journal The Lancet helps better define the ages at which women get the most life-saving benefit from yearly mammography. Women ages 60 to 69 benefited the most, with a 33 percent reduction in breast cancer death. Women 55 to 64 were second, with a 27 percent reduction. There was almost no benefit for women age 45 to 54, although women ages 50 to 54 had some reduction in breast cancer death.
What changes do I need to make?
My recommendation remains the same. Women should begin yearly mammography screening at age 50 and continue through at least age 69. The greatest emphasis should be on women who are 55-to-69, the age range for which survival benefit from mammograms is highest.
For younger women, the recommendation is less straightforward. The risk that a mammogram will show some abnormality that is not cancer is much greater. This translates to more testing and more anxiety without any benefit at all. And even for the woman who has a very early cancer detected, the data does not conclusively show that her quality and quantity of life will improve.
What can I expect in the future?
This controversy is helping to identify at what age women should be most strongly encouraged to get yearly mammography. The newest data is getting us closer, but probably is not the final answer.
Related Areas:
Women's Health
