Screening Mammography for Women in Their 40s: A Retrospective Study of the Potential Impact of the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force's 2009 Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations

Abstract

From 2007 through 2010, patients in their 40s accounted for one third of the population undergoing screening mammography and for nearly 20% of the screening-detected breast cancers--more than half of which were invasive. This information should be a useful contribution to counseling women in this age group when discussing whether or not to pursue regular screening mammography.

The Potential Impact of Risk-Based Screening Mammography in Women 40–49 Years Old

“…Similar to our results, 65% of their patients had invasive disease, and 15% had axillary metastases [41]. In 2013, Arleo et al [42] found that 92% of their 40-to 49-year-old screen-detected cancer patients lacked first-degree family history and that 74% lacked extremely dense breast tissue. In 1995, Curpen et al [43] found that 81% of 40-to 49-year-old women with screendetected cancer lacked family history.…”

Screening mammography with special reference to guidelines in South Africa

“…Accordingly, the delay of screening in this age group leads to the finding of more and larger later-stage tumours. 37,38,39…”

“…Single-view mammography was not good enough in the early days of screening to detect tumours in young, dense breasts. 38…”

“Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You”: Breast Imagers' Perspectives Regarding Screening Mammography for Others and for Themselves—Do They Practice What They Preach?

“…Studies continued to add to the preexisting literature that supported annual mammography as the optimal approach for maximum benefit [2,5,6]. Other studies highlighted the critical importance of screening women 40-49 years old annually because of a shorter sojourn time, resulting in improved survival and decreased breast cancer treatment-related morbidity [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”