mammogram screenings

Jan. 2, 2003 Until now, there has been little evidence and much debate in the medical community about how much these screenings actually benefit women in their 40s -- for whom breast cancer is the leading cause of death.
The controversy stems from some studies that have shown that mammograms for women in their 40s do not save lives. And some doctors doubt the benefits of mammograms in younger women because breast cancer in these women is more likely to be advanced -- making early detection less useful.
But a new study may help change that. It found that women between ages 42 and 49 who got regular mammograms at least every two years were more likely to have early-stage breast cancer -- making treatment easier and potential cure more attainable.
What's more, when cancer was detected, it was usually found so early that it would not have been detected by other means, such as a noticeable lump. These findings will be published in the Jan. 15 issue of Cancer.
This study shows that even after accounting for other factors that affect breast cancer risk, such as family history or estrogen use, the researchers determined that women in their 40s who get regular mammograms are 44% less likely to develop an aggressive breast cancer. This benefit would likely translate into decreased deaths from breast cancer among women in their 40s, say the researchers.