Screening Mammography

• Why screen? About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.
• Breast cancer has the second highest cancer death rate in women, second to lung carcinoma.
• Early detection of breast cancer can lead to:
• Greater range of treatment options
• Less extensive surgery
• Better treatment outcomes as lower stage cancers have better long term survival.

*Chart (survival, treatment, cost, stage) removed pending source

Regular screening mammography began in the 1980s and the breast cancer death rate has decreased by ~35% since.

Chart accompanying above removed pending source

• Mixed interpretation of the data has resulted in many organizations having different screening guidelines.
• American College of Surgeon (ACS) Guidelines: Age 40-44: Women may begin annual screening, age 45-54: Annual screen, Age 55+: yearly or every 2 years, as long as >10yrs life expectancy.
• United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF): Biennial screening for ages 50-74. Ages 40-49 should be individual choice.
• American College of Radiology (ACR) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): Annual at age 40
• Just to name a few!