A response to a recent research study in the Annals of Internal Medicine
PLYMOUTH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In the October 18, 2011 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine, a research study on screening mammography concluded performing mammograms every other year to reduce the probability of false positive results. The study, Cumulative Probability of False-Positive Recall or Biopsy Recommendation after 10 Years of Screening Mammography, was funded by the National Cancer Institute. The study also showed that performing mammograms every other year leads to an increase in late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer.
Although the study does not recommend changing the current annual guidelines to every other year, Jordan Hospital’s nationally-accredited Breast Center felt compelled to respond because, tragically, women may interpret the news associated with this study as a suggestion to reduce their screening mammograms to every other year. Jordan Hospital’s Breast Center recommends that women continue to receive annual mammograms.
“The purpose of screening mammograms is to discover breast cancer at an early and curable stage. Women then have the potential for less surgery, less radiation, lesser chances of having cancer in their lymph nodes and need for chemotherapy,” says Lisa Tito, MD, Director of the Jordan Hospital Breast Center. Screening every year, as opposed to every other year decreases deaths from breast cancer. Yearly mammograms decrease mortality by 40%, compared with 23% for women who have them every other year.
What does a False Positive Result Mean?
A false positive result means that something other than cancer was found during a mammogram which required either a needle biopsy or other tests—such as breast ultrasound or a six month follow-up mammogram.
“Mammograms do discover many non-cancerous findings that can lead to a biopsy or extra imaging. However, we feel very strongly that it is best to give a woman the good news that the biopsy was benign, rather than the bad news to women whose breast cancer has grown for two years,” says Marvin J. Lopez, MD, Breast Surgeon and Executive Director of the Jordan Hospital Cancer Center.
Role of the Jordan Hospital Breast Center
Part of our mission at the Jordan Hospital Breast Center is to educate women so they know what to expect and how the trade-off of these extra tests are balanced by fewer women dying of breast cancer.
“Our breast center continues to support yearly mammographic screening and offers free community lectures about why we screen, what to expect and what a biopsy entails-typically a needle sampling of the abnormality under local anesthesia,” adds Tito.
If your group would like a free lecture on this topic, please contact Cat Melendy, RN, Breast Health Nurse Navigator at (508) 732-8770. For questions and appointments, please feel free to call us at (508) 746-1259.
CONTACT:
Jordan Hospital
Christopher Smalley, 508-989-4679
KEYWORDS: United States North America Massachusetts
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Hospitals Oncology
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