Is Mammography Screening Reduces Breast Cancer Mortality?

Women are at lower risk of recurrence of cancer whose breast cancer is detected by mammography compared to those who discover a tumor by other means.

Women who are detected with cancerous tumors outside of the mammography, usually manual breast exam had a ninety percent of chance of recurrence of cancer elsewhere in their bodies.

Breast cancers are mostly detected by mammography screening and the procedure is becoming more common and the tumors found are often smaller.

The choice of breast cancer treatment, whether to skip the treatment depends on the age and severity of the cancer. So, correct diagnosis is essential to find the size of the tumor and mammography helps in finding the size.

Should all women in their 40s screen for breast cancer routinely?

There are many benefits to screening mammography, but the decision should be based on the conversation between a patient and the physician. Screening mammography in women in their 40s provided a reduction in breast cancer mortality, but with any regular screening, there will be potential harms.

There are few guidelines from which women can go for screening: individual assessment of risk of breast cancer and informing women ages 40 to 49 of the benefits and harms of mammography.

With these guidelines, women can decide to screen for mammography. Women can think about mammography and the risks of developing breast cancer. But, reduction in breast cancer mortality is expected with screening of breast cancer.

Digital mammography gives clearer and better images:

When breast tissue is screened by standard mammography and digital mammography, the latter has the better image quality. Digital mammography offers clear images than standard ones and allows for quick diagnosis and treatment.

Digital mammography allows for better visibility of the breast, particularly near the skin line, the chest wall and in women with dense breast tissue. The image can be read within seconds. There is no need to wait for the processing aspect of it to know if they have adequate images or repeats have to be done.

With quick treatment, the chance of survival of woman increases and less invasive treatment is needed. If there is a suspicious mass, it can be found better on digital system than on a film screen.

Digital mammography is also designed to reduce the discomfort associated with standard one, as the need for additional pictures is reduced with electronic image manipulation. As the images are digital and stored in computers, there is no loss of pictures and films.

The images can be transferred through internet or other network so that two different physicians at two different sights can view the images at the same time. This digital mammography technology is quicker and precise and helps in catching the breast cancer more effectively.