Breast Cancer Screening: Mammography in the Spotlight

Although the idea of cancer screening seems simple and has intuitive appeal—catch the cancer before symptoms develop, treat it, and improve outcomes—the reality is more complex. Some screening programs, such as Pap testing for cervical cancer, have produced dramatic declines in mortality from the disease being screened for, but others have a more modest effect on survival and carry some risks. Though the balance may still tip in favor of screening, it’s important to learn what we can to make a fully informed decision.

In the case of mammographic screening for breast cancer, the most important potential benefit is a reduction in breast cancer mortality. Mammography doesn’t reduce breast cancer mortality to the same extent that the Pap test reduces cervical cancer mortality, but the benefit is substantial enough that the test is strongly recommended for certain groups of women.

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