Diagnostic Mammogram Results Breast Examination Recommendations

Recent breast examination research recommendations show that diagnostic mammogram results do not really help women over the age 50 as much as what has been believed. The benefits of mammography are limited

A study conducted in Norway concludes mammogram results reduce the risk of an early death, but the benefit is disappointingly low. Breast cancer death rates in women undergoing mammography breast examination screening fell 28% in areas where routine screening was introduced in Norway, but only around 30% of the reduction could be attributed to the screening.

The death rate benefit ascribed to diagnostic mammogram screening was a decrease of 2.4 breast cancer deaths per 100,000 person-years, out of the total decrease of 7.2 deaths per 100,000 person-years from historical levels. The apparent effect of screening mammography was considerably smaller than expected. It's not the great lifesaver that people think it is.

Researchers followed the women over 50 breast cancer death rates who got regular mammograms and compared those to the death rate in an older group of women who didn't get the breast examination screening. They ascertained mammograms actually made little difference. Some 2,500 women would have to be regularly screened over 10 years to save one life from breast cancer.

Experts say most of that benefit wasn't from the screening, but rather due to better treatment and greater awareness of the disease.

However, other doctors advised women not to be discouraged about these findings. Doctors advice would be to actually to continue with current breast examination recommendations as some doctors do have personal experience with people having early detection and saving their lives.

Some suggest that the little benefit of diagnostic mammograms in the latest study results may be because the women weren't followed long enough. Maximum follow-up time was less than nine years, which could be insufficient to fully valuate the effects of mammograms screening. The American Cancer Society has long advocated that women get annual breast cancer screenings starting at 40.