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by Lisa F. Baron, M.D., Chief of Mammography, Hollings Mammography Center

The American Cancer Society recently released new guidelines for mammography screening in healthy women 40 years and older.

Screening mammograms are now recommended every year for all women 40 years of age and older. This compares to the prior recommendation of obtaining a screening mammogram every one to two years between the ages of 40-50 and yearly after age 50.

The American Cancer Society changed their recommendations after reviewing the most current information available regarding breast cancer screening. Their decision was based on the following information:

• 70 to 80 percent of all women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factor for breast cancer other than being female.
• One in 66 women in their forties will develop breast cancer.
• One in eight women by age 85 will develop breast cancer.
• About 18 percent of all breast cancers occur in women in their forties.
• 13 percent of the 44,000 women expected to die of breast cancer during 1997 will be in their forties.

Results from the most recent meta-analysis (a compilation of many breast cancer screening studies) of all eight randomized clinical trials found 18 percent fewer deaths from breast cancer among women in their forties who had mammograms.

Breast cancers found by mammographic screening of women in their forties were smaller and at an earlier stage (with less spread to lymph nodes or other organs) than cancers found in women not having mammograms. Thus, these patients have a higher cure rate.

The benefits of yearly mammograms for women in their forties and older outweigh the impact of occasional false positive results leading to biopsy of noncancerous abnormalities and the economic cost of these examinations. Because mammograms cannot find 100 percent of breast cancers, the American Cancer Society recommends the use of three important tests for breast cancer detection in women not having any breast problems: 1. monthly self breast-examination, 2. yearly clinical breast exams by a health care professional and 3. yearly mammograms beginning at age 40.

Questions regarding breast cancer screening can be directed to your doctor or to the Hollings Mammography Center at 876-0207.