New Evidence Backs Mammogram Use
The latest numbers show routine mammograms are an essential weapon in the battle against the deadly disease, according to The Early Show medical correspondent, Dr. Emily Senay.
The latest data from the American Cancer Society shows that the death rate from breast cancer continues to drop. And new research in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that the drop can be attributed to the combination of routine mammograms to detect breast cancer and surgery and chemotherapy to treat it.
Early detection and advances in treatment have made breast cancer a very survivable disease, Senay says, and there are nearly 2.3 million breast cancer survivors in the United States as living proof.
Mammograms are the best screening tool we have to detect breast cancer when it's most treatable, Senay points out. Studies show that women who are screened regularly have a better prognosis than those who aren't. The theory is that in many cases, mammograms are able to find much smaller tumors much earlier than with a breast self-exam, and therefore doctors are able to treat them much earlier and more effectively.
Another new study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that newer, computerized digital mammograms are better than traditional mammograms at detecting breast cancer in women who are pre-menopausal, under age 50, or who have dense breasts.
The newer technology is more expensive and not as widely available but, as we learn more about its benefits, it should continue to be used as part of the overall strategy for tackling breast cancer, Senay notes.
She quickly adds that standard film and digital mammograms are both very effective in detecting breast cancer, so women shouldn't be deterred if the newer digital technology isn't available.
The difference is comparable to using a film camera as opposed to a digital one. The quality of the images is similar, but a radiologist can enhance digital images to highlight or contrast areas of interest, or quickly magnify images using computer software.
It's also easier for doctors to get a second opinion much more quickly by e-mailing digital images rather than sending film images through the mail.
The American Cancer Society recommends a clinical breast exam by a doctor every three years for women aged 20 to 39, and a clinical breast exam and a mammogram every year for women 40 and older.
Earlier evaluation for screening is suggested for women at high risk for breast cancer due to genetic makeup, family history, or a personal history of disease, Senay says.
The Early Show is helping to raise money for breast cancer research in its "Pink for a Week Series" this week. Click here for details.