Studies Raise Questions About Mammogram Frequency

June 14, 2012

Although mammograms are often a life-saving tool for women, according to a study published the Annals of Internal Medicine, the frequency that women undergo these tests should be customized to each patient -- based on the woman's age, breast density and her family's history of breast cancer.

Although the American Cancer Society suggests that women begin receiving annual mammograms at age 40, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Forces advises women to be screened every other year from age 50 to 74, John Schousboe of Park Nicollet Health Services in Minneapolis and his colleagues found that it is better for women to decide how often they should get these tests based on their personal histories.

Mammograms and Overdiagnosis

Another study conducted by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health found that routine mammograms often lead to overdiagnosis of serious breast cancer. According to the study, for every 2,500 women who had mammograms, about six to ten of them were overdiagnosed -- which led to treatments for types of cancer that were more serious than what they actually had. As a result, these women received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone treatments and surgery that they did not need.

In order to correct this problem, scientists say that the mammography tools need to be improved, which will allow doctors to more easily make the distinction between life-threatening and less serious cancers.

"Mammography might not be appropriate for use in breast cancer screening because it cannot distinguish between progressive and non-progressive cancer," said lead researcher Mette Kalager in a statement. "Radiologists have been trained to find even the smallest of tumors in a bid to detect as many cancers as possible to be able to cure breast cancer. However, the present study adds to the increasing body of evidence that this practice has caused a problem for women -- diagnosis of breast cancer that wouldn't cause symptoms or death."

A Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help

If you or someone you love has suffered injury due to a physician's failure to diagnose cancer, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney. A medical malpractice lawyer can assess your case and help you get the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. For more information, contact an attorney today.

Article provided by Cavanagh Law Group
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