Yikes is the word. Writing at Jezebel Laura Beck has found
just the right word to describe the latest research on the value of mammograms.
Americans believe in mammograms. They believe in
preventative testing. They believe that the sooner you catch an incipient tumor
the better the chances for effective treatment.
Americans believe so strongly in mammograms that President
Obama made a campaign issue out of the Republican proposal to defund Planned
Parenthood. He claimed that Republicans would thereby deprive countless women
of their access to mammograms.
Of course, Planned Parenthood does not perform mammograms,
but why let reality get in the way of a good story line.
Anyway, most of what we think we know about mammograms turns
out to be questionable.
Allow Laura Beck to summarize the new research:
Roughly
one third of tumors found in routine mammography screenings
are "unlikely to result in illness, according to a new study that
says 30 years of the breast cancer exams have resulted in the overdiagnosis of
1.3 million American women."
The
study, published
in the New England Journal of Medicine, claims that the increase in breast
cancer survival rates over the last few decades is because of improved
therapies and not screenings, and not because of the widespread use of
mammograms. In fact, the widespread mammogram usage resulted in overdiagnosis
of breast cancer in roughly 70,000 women a year. Which is a problem as being
diagnosed with breast cancer is a big fucking deal — think about the cost,
anxiety, radiation exposure, false positives, and overtreatment. Yikes.
"Our
study raises serious questions about the value of screening mammography,"
wrote Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, an epidemiology and biostatistics professor at
Dartmouth College's Geisel School of Medicine. "It clarifies that the
benefit of mortality reduction is probably smaller, and the harm of
overdiagnosis probably larger, than has been previously recognized."
Breast cancer screening are often unnecessary. In many cases
they cause harm.
1,300,000 women have been overdiagnosed because the tumors
discovered by mammograms will probably not become illness.
And then, Beck adds, think of how much this overdiagnosis
costs in emotional well-being and in aggressive cancer treatment.
As for the idea that screening has helped increase the
survival rate of breast cancer victims, Dr. Welsh asserted that the improved results derive from improved treatments, not from early detection.
He concludes that women who are at higher risk for breast
cancer should receive mammograms but that the test is not necessarily
appropriate for everyone.
Naturally, the research is controversial. Beck adds the opinion of a physician who believes that Welsh’s research is bunk.
7 comments:
Same kind of data are coming out about the value of colonoscopies, too ... What are we consumers to do?
Good question... similar data are also available about PSA tests-- on the one hand physicians say that the new research is designed to save money... on the other hand physicians are making a lot of money giving these tests and treating the misdiagnosed cases.
My wife died of breast cancer. Her mom survived it. I tell my daughter to get mammograms.
Breast cancer is a type of cancer which affects breast part of human being. It happens in both men and women, but in men they are less chances of getting effected by breast cancer. Breast cancer can be cured if detected in earlier stages. Treatment can be surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy.
We at BFFL Co provide unique products, information and support for patients Breast Cancer or other surgeries, to help them recover with comfort, convenience and dignity.
Breast cancer is a highly lethal disease for women and it is possible for men as well. But if we could know the early symptoms of breast cancer can we prevent it happening.
So far this article is helpful in information about breast cancer.
Breast cancer is a highly lethal disease for women and it is possible for men as well. But if we could know the early symptoms of breast cancer can we prevent it happening.
So far this article is helpful in information about breast cancer.
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