Study Reveals Life-Saving Potential of Regular Mammograms for Breast Cancer

A new study detailing how regularly women should receive mammograms for breast cancer diagnosis suggests that consistent mammograms save lives. The study showed that women who closely followed yearly guidelines set for breast cancer testing reduced their likelihood of death by the disease.

Senior vice president for early cancer detection science at the American Cancer Society and study co-author Robert Smith has shared that “It is quite common for women to not receive their mammography exams on time, or they need to reschedule, and that extends the time between the most recent mammogram and the next one. But if a woman has developed breast cancer, these delays can contribute to being diagnosed with advanced disease and may be life-threatening.”

The life-saving potential of regular mammograms for breast cancer:

• Women who closely followed yearly mammogram guidelines reduced their likelihood of death by breast cancer.
• Delays in receiving mammography exams can contribute to advanced disease and may be life-threatening.
• The study included data from over 37,000 participants, with 4,500 diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Women who underwent all 5 screening tests had a 72% reduction in the risk of dying from breast cancer.
• At least five mammograms preceding the diagnosis are needed to catch cancer at the earliest.
• Organizations recommend women begin regular screening for breast cancer in their 40s.
• Women aged 45 and above should start annual screenings, while those aged 55 or older can be screened every other year.
• High-risk women with a family history, genetic predisposition, or previous radiation therapy have different screening criteria.

According to the American Society for Cancer, women should start annual screenings by the age of 45 and preferably with mammograms. Women aged 55 or older do not necessarily have to adhere to yearly check-ups if they do not want to and can instead opt for being screened every other year.

This criteria, however, has been established for women who are not at high risk. Women who have an extensive family or personal history of breast cancer or those who have the gene that makes it likely for them to develop the disease are said to be at higher risk. Additionally, women who have undergone chest radiation therapy before the age of 30 are also at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. It is important to note that mammography is not infallible as a diagnostic tool for breast cancer. If women detect any abnormalities in their breasts between screenings, it is advised to consult a healthcare professional, as emphasized by Smith.

Although these findings have been presented in front of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, they should still be considered preliminary as they have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.