Important Health and News Information
Additional Evidence Regarding the Benefit of Regular MammogramsAccording to the results of a study presented at the ASCO 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium, nearly three-quarters of breast cancer deaths occur among the minority off women who do not get regular screening mammograms. Although breast cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women, breast cancer mortality rates have been declining for the last 20 years.[1] The decline in mortality is thought to be due to improvements in both treatment and early detection. Mammography (an X-ray of the breast) is an important part of routine breast cancer screening. The American Cancer Society recommends that women at average risk of breast cancer receive annual mammograms starting at the age of 40.[2] Women at higher risk of breast cancer may need to begin screening at a younger age, and may be screened with breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to mammography. Studies have indicated that mammography reduces the risk of death from breast cancer. To explore the relationship between mammography and breast cancer mortality in the general population, researchers collected information about 6,997 women diagnosed with breast cancer in Massachusetts between 1990 and 1999 and followed until 2007 (median follow-up period was 12.5 years).[3] Regular screening was defined as two or more screening mammograms at intervals of two years or less in women with no breast cancer symptoms. Surveys have indicated that roughly 80% of Massachusetts women have a screening mammogram at least every two years. During follow-up, there were 461 deaths from breast cancer:
When the researchers extrapolated these results to all women with breast cancer in the U.S., they concluded that 5% of regularly screened women with breast cancer would die within 13 years compared with 56% of those who had not been regularly screened. These results highlight the important role of regular screening mammography in reducing the risk of death from breast cancer. References: [1] American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/STT_0.asp Accessed October 8, 2009. [2] Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Brawley OW. Cancer screening in the United States, 2009: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and issues in cancer screening. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2009;59:27-41. [3] Cady B, Webb M, Webb M, Michaelson J, Smith BI. Death from breast cancer occurs predominantly in women not participating in mammographic screening. Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium. Abstract 24. |
Smoking May Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer
Women who have smoked 100 or more cigarettes in their life have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer, according to the results of a study published in The Breast Journal.[1]
The American Cancer Society estimates that one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. Due to the prevalence of breast cancer in the United States, researchers continue to evaluate ways to reduce its incidence, as the best “treatment” for cancer is preventing its occurrence. Many lifestyle factors—such as smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption—have been linked to an increased incidence of cancer. Research is ongoing to determine ways in which individuals can modify lifestyle factors to reduce their risk of developing the disease.
A case control study involved 8,097 patients—1,225 women who developed breast cancer and 6,872 who did not in the first year after an initial visit to the Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic between 1993 and 2003. The women completed surveys regarding personal lifestyle habits and were considered smokers if they had smoked 100 or more cigarettes in their lifetime.
The results indicated that women who were former or current smokers had a 25% increased risk of developing breast cancer, and this was considered statistically significant. The researchers concluded that “a personal history of smoking is predictive of breast cancer diagnosis.”
Reference:
[1] Croghan IT, Pruthi S, Hays JT, et al. The role of smoking in breast cancer development: An analysis of a Mayo Clinic cohort. The Breast Journal. 2009; 15: 489-495.