What are the advantages of breast cancer screening - mammography - mammograms?

Background:

Diagnosing breast cancer in its intraductal stage might be helpful to prevent the development of invasive cancer. Our aim was to investigate the sensitivity with which ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is diagnosed by mammography and by breast MRI.

Methods:

During a 5-year period, 7319 women who were referred to an academic national breast centre received MRI in addition to mammography for diagnostic assessment and screening. Mammograms and breast MRI studies were assessed independently by different radiologists. We investigated the sensitivity of each method of detection and compared the biological profiles of mammography-diagnosed DCIS versus DCIS detected by MRI alone. We also compared the risk profiles of women with mammography-detected DCIS with those of MRI-detected DCIS.

Findings:

193 women received a final surgical pathology diagnosis of pure DCIS. Of those, 167 had undergone both imaging tests preoperatively. 93 (56%) of these cases were diagnosed by mammography and 153 (92%) by MRI (p<0.0001). Of the 89 high-grade DCIS, 43 (48%) were missed by mammography, but diagnosed by MRI alone; all 43 cases missed by mammography were detected by MRI. By contrast, MRI detected 87 (98%) of these lesions; the two cases missed by MRI were detected by mammography. Age, menopausal status, personal or family history of breast cancer or of benign breast disease, and breast density of women with MRI-only diagnosed DCIS did not differ significantly from those of women with mammography-diagnosed DCIS.

Please click on the required question.

• 1 What is cancer (malignancy)
• 2 What is meant by cancer staging?
• 3 How prevalent is cancer?
• 4 How prevalent are womens' cancers?
• 5 What causes cancer?
• 6 Is cancer a hereditary condition?
• 7 How can gynaecological cancer present?
• 8 How can we reduce the risks of the womens' cancers?

   

  Reducing the Risks of Womens' Cancers.

• 9 What are screening tests?
• 10 What are the reactions to a diagnosis of cancer?
• 11 Is there a place for counselling when cancer is diagnosed?
• 12 Can personality alter the prognosis?
• 13 Is the incidence of deaths from the female cancers changing?
• 14 Is there a place for a holistic approach to cancer?

   

  Cancer of the Cervix.

• 15 How prevalent is cervical cancer?
• 16 What causes cervical cancer?
• 17 How long an interval should there be between cervical screening (smear) (PAP) tests?
• 18 Is there any evidence that cervical screening can reduce the incidence of cervical cancer?
• 19 Will pre-malignant changes of the cervix invariably lead to cancer?

   

  Endometrial Cancer (Uterus)

• 20 What causes endometrial cancer?
• 21 Are there screening tests for endometrial cancer?
• 22 How does endometrial cancer present?

  Cancer of the Ovary.

• 23 How does ovarian cancer present?
• 24 How prevalent is ovarian cancer?
• 25 What are tumour markers?
• 26 Can we screen for ovarian cancer?
• 27 What is the relationship between infertility and ovarian cancer?
• 28 Can treatment of infertility increase the risk of ovarian cancer?
• 29 What is the relationship between oral contraception and cancer?
• 30 Can ovarian cancer be prevented?
• 31 I use talcum power. Could this increase my risk of developing ovarian cancer?

   

  The Treatment Of Womens' Cancers

• 32 Can we predict the course of a cancer?
• 33 What treatment options are available for gynaecological cancer?
• Q32.33c What treatment options are available for ovarian cancer?

  Cancer of the Vulva, Vagina and Fallopian Tube

• 34 How prevalent are malignant conditions of the vulva, vagina and Fallopian tubes?

  Breast Cancer

• 35a What are the advantages of breast cancer screening - mammography - mammograms?
• 36 How often should breast screening be carried out?
• 37 Are there any problems having a mammogram?
• 38 Should I check myself for breast lumps?
• 39 One of my family developed cancer of the breast. Am I at increased risk?
• 40 We have a family tendency towards developing breast / ovarian cancer. Are there any genetic tests to find out if I am at increased risk?
• 41 What happens if a mammogram shows an abnormality?
• 42 What are the advantages and disadvantages of tamoxifen in the management of breast cancer?
• 42a Breast Cancer Treatment - What is available?
• 43 What is the relationship between breast cancer and the pill?

  Web sites and Support Groups

• 44 Are there any support groups?
• 44 Are there any support groups?
• 45 Support Groups.
• 46 Breast Cancer Support Groups
• 47 Ovarian Cancer Support Groups
• 48 Endometrial Cancer Support Groups
• 49 Cervical Cancer Support Groups
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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  This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

  I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.