Mammograms help save lives.
More than that, the annual screening is non-invasive, expedient and helps accomplish many other goals. Dr. Phil Hartgerink a radiologist at Allegan General Hospital, has a ready answer to those who ask, “Why should someone be screened?”
“It’s pretty simple,” Hartgerink said. “Screening mammography finds cancers earlier, allows more women to have breast preservation surgery, and ultimately save lives.”
That said, there are some details individuals should work out with their doctors. Take, for example, the question of how often the screenings should be done.
“There has been plenty of confusion on this topic in recent years with different organizations making different recommendations on when women should start getting screening mammograms,” Hartgerink said.
He summarized the three main recommendations for beginning regular screening for all for women with average risk: The American Cancer Society as of 2015 puts the age at 45; the United States preventative services task force’s most recent recommendations are for biennial screening mammograms for women put it at age 50 to 74 (but for biennial screening); and the American College of Radiology, The Society of Breast Imaging, and The Society of Surgical Oncology all continue to recommend annual mammograms beginning at age 40.
“The key here is that screening mammography is our best tool for discovering cancers at an early stage and has been shown in scientific studies to save lives, with the greatest benefit in women ages 40 to 69,” Hartgerink said. “My personal recommendation is for women of average risk to begin screening at age 40.”
And that level of risk is highly individualized. Some of the things taken into account include certain genetic mutations—BRCA, previous chest radiation, or multiple family members with a history of breast cancer. All of those can increase an individual’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
“Patients should talk with their primary care provider about calculating their lifetime risk and determining if they are at increased risk and should begin screening at a younger age,” Hartgerink said. “There are certain personal behaviors that have been shown to increase risk of developing breast cancer, including smoking, drinking more than two alcoholic drinks per day, and being overweight after menopause.
“On the flip side, there is evidence that regular physical activity can decrease a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.”
In addition, while news stories make the rounds about various foods being touted for their cancer-fighting properties, he said there are no foods that have been scientifically proven to decrease the risk of cancer of the breast.
Other myths he’s happy to dispel? Radiation from the screenings themselves—in truth, it does not cause cancer.
“The radiation dose to the breast received from a mammogram has dramatically decreased in recent years with digital mammography and has not been shown to cause cancer,” Hartgerink said. “Another myth is that breast cancer does not cause pain. Some cancers may be pain-free but others may cause breast pain.”
Thankfully, fewer people are dying of the disease each year in the United States. That doesn’t mean it’s going away on its own, however.
“Just the opposite,” Hartgerink said. “Mortality from breast cancer has been on a decline in the United States, but this is because of more widespread use of screening with mammography. This trend shows that screening is having a positive effect, finding cancers earlier and saving lives.
As for alternatives for those avoiding screening because of perceived discomfort, there’s really no substitute, he said.
“Annual breast examination by a trained health care provider is recommended as well as patient self exam, but the mainstay of screening for breast cancer across the population should be digital mammography,” he said.
Contact Ryan Lewis at rmlewis@allegannews.com or (269) 673-5534.
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