Breast Cancer Screening

[zorro]

Thousands of women in England could be undergoing unnecessary and potentially devastating treatment for suspected breast cancer, a new study suggests.
The study, by researchers at the Nordic Cochrane Centre, looked at seven trials investigating both the benefits and negative outcomes associated with breast screening.
They found that for every 2,000 women invited for mammograms, one would have their life prolonged but 10 would endure devastating and unnecessary treatment.
Another 200 of those women would experience weeks or months of anxiety because of "false positive" findings - the discovery of cell changes that turn out to be benign. The findings have prompted a leading doctor to call into question whether the NHS breast screening programme should continue.
For the full article:
www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=411118&in_page_id=1774 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=411118&in_page_id=1774)

This is not the view of the American Cancer Society! I've heard several times that the 2 screening tests that have made the biggest difference in survival in certain cancers are the Pap smear in detecting cervical cancer early and mammography in detecting breast cancers at an early more curable stage. I strongly advise women to continue to go by the recommendations of the ACS regarding breast cancer screening with mammograms.

[carsalesguy]

thank goodness i don't have to deal with that problem

[Tully Mars]

thank goodness i don't have to deal with that problem


If you are married or have a woman (sister, mother, aunt, friend, etc.) in your life that you care about you may have to deal with it in one way or another. I can attest to the fact that cancer does not only affect the person with cancer but all of those who care about him/her as well.

[Southern_Belle]

thank goodness i don't have to deal with that problem

Men can get breast cancer too... so you may have to deal with this. I certainly hope that you wouldn't have to. But it is possible.

[Bahlk]

That is true...me are at lower rates than females but they aren't out of the woods.

[jmack]

If you are married or have a woman (sister, mother, aunt, friend, etc.) in your life that you care about you may have to deal with it in one way or another. I can attest to the fact that cancer does not only affect the person with cancer but all of those who care about him/her as well.

Very true Tully.

Like many, my sister was diagnosed with Breast Cancer to late and died a few years ago. I think that was the worst period of my life and it was so sad watching her two girls grow up without a Mother.