The effectiveness of screening for breast cancer. Should I spend?

The question was repeatedly raised whether breast cancer screening (Breast Cancer) should be carried out and, if so, which method is best to use. Barton et al. studied the literature data and noted the advantages of screening, but with some reservations. In a randomized study and in a case-control study, a combination of screening and mammography was compared with no screening.

A statistically significant increase in mortality from breast cancer (BC) was shown (20 and 70%, respectively) in women aged 40–64 years who did not undergo a screening examination. A meta-analysis of research has shown that physical examination of the mammary glands or screening mammography reduced mortality from breast cancer (BC) in women 40–69 years by about 25%, and in 40–49 years – by 18%.

In Canada, a study was conducted in women aged 50-59 years who were randomized into two groups: in one they performed a standard physical examination of the mammary glands, in the other – a physical examination and mammography. The survey was conducted annually for 5 years and showed that mortality from breast cancer (BC) in women in these two groups for 7 years remained similar, which proves the effectiveness of a physical study of the mammary glands without mammography.

The Health Insurance Plan study, which took place when a mammogram was just being introduced in clinics, revealed that in most cases breast cancer (BC) was diagnosed with a physical examination of the mammary glands. Interestingly, the reduction in mortality after 10 years was 29%, which is comparable to the 30% decrease in a clinical study conducted in two counties in Sweden, in which only mammography was used.