But, does it prevent breast cancer?

Routine mammography, beginning at 40 years does not prevent breast cancer, but does prevent breast cancer deaths!  Each time I read a review, I think the "controversy" is over.  The most recent independent expert panel review of screening mammogram studies shows a life savings of 20%, published in The Lancet.  This is a review of older studies. I have already blogged about other, newer, studies that have demonstrated life savings of up to 50% http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-last-word-about-mammograms.html.

Why do I feel the necessity to post this data again if you all already know it?  At a Breast Cancer Conference this morning, we discussed the bad press mammograms receive in the media, creating the "controversy" that doesn't really exist and that perhaps this bad press is keeping some women from getting a mammogram.  It was suggested that we as physicians need to be the ones to spread the word: 

mammograms save lives.

If you know someone who doesn't get hers, encourage her to get one.


Continue to:

• Be lean
• Exercise regularly 
• Be active

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancers each year!

This content is general and not personal medical advice.