A mammogram is the process of using an X-ray to visualize and to examine breasts for malignant--or cancerous--tumors. Screening via mammogram does not prevent breast cancer, but it can potentially reduce breast cancer-related mortality due to early detection.
Effects
Mammograms only enable early detection of breast cancer. In that sense, mammogram has no preventive effects against the disease. However, early detection can lead to early treatment of breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, patients with breast cancer detected by mammogram in the early stages have a 90 to 95 percent cure rate. On the other hand, patients diagnosed with breast cancer at late stage (e.g. Stage IV) have low survival rates. For instance, the five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer is 20 percent, according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database.
Benefits
Annual screening by mammogram has the potential to reduce breast cancer mortality by 40 to 50 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.
Considerations
A study published in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention" indicates radiologic breast density, a measure of how white the breasts appear on a mammogram, is a strong risk factor for breast cancer.
Expert Insight
USMedicine.com reported in November 2009 that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, or USPSTF, recommended the interval between two consecutive mammograms to be two years instead of one, which was its earlier recommendation. The USPSTF argued that biennial mammogram screening delivers similar health benefits in comparison to annual mammography.
Compliance
About 70 percent of American women comply with screening by mammogram, according to the American Cancer Society.
Tags: breast cancer, American Cancer, American Cancer Society, Cancer Society, early detection
