Evidence of an increase in cancer cases confirmed

Currently, several studies confirm the fact of an increase in the incidence of breast cancer in the early stages of tumor development. This leads to an increase in survival among the contingent of patients examined. Although the number of false cases of cancer is still significant, the cost of such a survey is quite high, and the anxiety that a woman is experiencing is a source of experience for her.

When the screening program began to be performed, about 20 cases of breast cancer were discovered per 1,000 women (the so-called common cases). Upon further observation, among the selected contingent, about 2 new cases per 1000 women were additionally detected each year (the so-called random cases). The cost of identifying them using screening methods ranges from 10,000 to 25,000 pounds sterling, and the cost of each life saved by the patient, given the treatment, is probably 2-5 times higher.

Perhaps, breast cancer screening studies for some categories of the population can be considered justified, although they are not a panacea. The effectiveness of the screen depends on the nature of the population sample. For example, among individuals with motivated health complaints, screening studies are more effective than among the population of large cities, which, due to the nature of their lifestyle, is difficult to constantly monitor.

Recently, another important problem has arisen. It lies in the fact that women who take hormonal drugs, decreases the effectiveness of screening mammography, because “a significant place on the radiograph is taken by darkened tissue.”

Among the important achievements of surgery should be the development of the most gentle method of removing the lymph node (or group of nodes), closest to the tumor in the way of lymph flow from it (the so-called sentinel node). This operation gives the same result as the usual removal of axillary lymph nodes, although its technique continues to improve.

A number of important issues concerning the technology of screening and treatment of non-invasive duct tumors are still to be clarified. Thus, the three-year break taken in the UK between examinations seems to be too long, because during this time a large number of so-called “interval” crayfish have developed.