Who should be screened and when
In fact, the majority of breast cancers are concentrated in this age limits and, according to the experts of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), participation in screening, organized by active invitation with these modalities and frequency, in this age limits can limit deaths from this problems by 60 percentĀ mammogram screening in Denville, NJ
In some regions, the effectiveness of screening programs involving a wider age group is being tested , in particular women between 45 and 49 years old, invited to undergo mammography every year, and those up to 74 years of age. every two years.
According to IARC experts, extending mammography to 40-year-olds could guarantee a further reduction in breast cancer mortality, albeit lower than that obtained in the 50-69 age group. At the same time, the lengthening of the average life span and the continuation of good health even at an older age have led to the belief that it might be favourable to advice screening to women .
What happens if the exam is positive
In the event of a positive result, the woman is asked to perform a second mammogram , aultrasoundand a clinical examination that confirms the actual presence of a tumor, before proceeding with the treatment which involves, in almost all cases, surgery to remove the diseased tissues.
What are the limits
Breast cancer screening is now a consolidated activity that has shown efficacy in reducing mortality from this cancer . Despite this, still today there is debate on the risk of over-diagnosis, or the identification of a non-dangerous tumor lesion that would never have been diagnosed if the person had not carried out the examination. This is for two reasons: because the tumor is characterized by a very slow growth or because in the meantime the person would have died from other causes.