Just Because You’ve Survived Breast Cancer . . .

Boston researchers have found that only a minority of breast cancer survivors over 65 actually undergo the recommended annual mammography. For those that do, the reward is almost a 1/3 reduction in the risk of dying from local recurrent disease. These results are published in an article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Only 41% of 1850 patients who were followed over a 5-year period had 4 or more mammograms during this time. This was despite the well-established recommendations for surveillance. It can certainly be argued that mammograms will only detect local recurrence. However, the attendance for a mammogram may well stimulate the patient to be more aware of early signs or symptoms of a more generalized recurrence, in time for something to be done about it.

Mammogram recommendations are not made to put money in the pockets of radiologists; they are founded on good scientific expectations of benefit to the patient. So don’t ignore them!