Introduction
Breast cancer is a common fatal disease whose mortality can be reduced by regular screenings. The most vulnerable population is women; with age, the risks of the disease increase significantly. Despite the severity of the disease, it is successfully treatable, especially in the early stages. Screening is a successful preventive measure, allowing one to start treatment as early as possible. All women in the United States older than 50 should be educated about the need for regular screening for breast cancer.
Condition and Screening
Breast cancer is a severe chronic disease that develops in the breast cells. The most common signs of the disease are swelling or thickening of the breast, a change in the appearance of the breast, and the surrounding skin. Earlier detection, a personalized approach, and new disease studies significantly increase the chances of survival. The most common screening methods include self-examination, clinical examination, mammography, ultrasound, and MRI (NCI, 2018a). Mammography is one of the most effective screening methods for breast cancer (Fletcher et al., 2013). Mammograms detect breast cancer early, before it is noticeable on physical examination.
Breast cancer is a common chronic disease that seriously threatens public health. Firstly, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. For almost 270,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, there are only 2,600 men with registered breast cancer (2018b). In the United States, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer, with about 42,000 women dying each year (National Cancer Institute, 2018b). The National Cancer Institute reports that nearly 13 percent of women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime (2018b). The average age of developing the disease is about 60 years (NCI, 2018b).
Statistics for recent years show no increase or decrease in the rates (NCI, 2018b). However, survival over the study period since 1992 has increased significantly, reaching 90.6% (NCI, 2018b). The risk of developing breast cancer is associated with sex and age and does not depend on race. The increase in survival rates is associated with increased communication about the risks of the disease, improved types of screenings, and an individualized approach to treatment.
Methodology
Recommendations for regular screening for breast cancer should be based on the underlying risk factors for the disease. According to the United States Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF), the main risk factor is the patient’s age, starting from 50 years (2016). An additional risk factor is the female gender, as women make up 99 percent of all diagnosed cases (United States Preventive Services Taskforce [USPSTF], 2016).
The USPSTF developed the screening recommendation methodology based on the most vulnerable breast cancer population (2016). Regular screening is recommended for a population at particular risk: women over 50. Screening is a reliable tool for preventing death from breast cancer. Mammography has been suggested as the most effective screening method because it can diagnose the disease early. Mammography is more accessible to the public than ultrasound or MRI. Additional procedures may be prescribed if there are tumors on the mammogram.
The USPSTF screening recommendations are based on the age of the female population and statistical data. Screening mammography is recommended every two years for women aged 50 to 74 (USPSTF, 2016). Women under 50 should make individual decisions about how often they get screened for breast cancer (Qaseem et al., 2019).
Starting mammography screening at a younger age may increase the risk of overdiagnosis (Molani et al., 2019). Women between 60 and 69 have the best chance of avoiding death from the disease through regular screening (Tabár et al., 2019). Particular attention is paid to women whose close relatives have already encountered breast cancer (USPSTF, 2016). In such cases, regular diagnosis can begin at an earlier age.
Critical Analysis
Studies by the USPSTF and independent investigators were used to inform the frequency and population recommendations for breast cancer screening. Molani et al. have focused on the risks of overdiagnosing breast cancer (2019). The researchers conclude that screening for breast cancer does more good than harm (Molani et al., 2019). The USPSTF provided basic information on the age profile of screening needs.
According to the USPSTF, it is necessary to start conducting regular diagnostic examinations from the age of 50 in the absence of other risk factors (2016). A study by Tabár et al. suggests that regular screenings reduced the risk of dying from breast cancer by 60 percent (2019). However, Qaseem et al. state that for women under 50, the potential risks of regular mammograms outweigh the benefits due to the reduced risks (2019). It becomes evident that screening is recommended for women over 50; otherwise, the decision should be individual.
The Guidelines for Screening Procedures for Breast Cancer suggest that regular screening every other year for women over 50 is a significant factor in reducing mortality. Screening should begin earlier if a woman has a family history of breast cancer (USPSTF, 2016). The importance of regular mammography lies in the fact that it can significantly reduce mortality from breast cancer. Since the disease is widespread, every woman should be aware of the need for screenings to detect and treat the disease early.
Conclusion
Breast cancer poses a serious threat to public health. Although the number of cases does not change much yearly, the death rate from this disease has fallen. This trend is associated with popularizing the need for regular screening examinations. The best method is mammography, which provides the most accurate result. Screening for breast cancer in women over the age of 50 significantly increases the chances of survival.
References
Fletcher, R., Fletcher, S. W., & Fletcher, S. W. (2013). Clinical epidemiology: The essentials. Wolters Kluwer Health.
Molani, S., Madadi, M., & Wilkes, W. (2019). A partially observable Markov chain framework to estimate overdiagnosis risk in breast cancer screening: Incorporating uncertainty in patients adherence behaviors. Omega, 89(1), 40-53. Web.
National Cancer Institute. (2018a). Breast Cancer Screening. Cancer. Web.
National Cancer Institute. (2018b). Female Breast Cancer – Cancer Stat Facts. SEER. Web.
Qaseem, A., Lin, J. S., Mustafa, R. A., Horwitch, C. A., Wilt, T. J., & Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. (2019). Screening for breast cancer in average-risk women: A guidance statement from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 170(8), 547-560. Web.
Tabár, L., Dean, P. B., Chen, T. H. H., Yen, A. M. F., Chen, S. L. S., Fann, J. C. Y., Chiu, S. Y. H., Ku, M. M. S., Wu, W. Y. Y., Hsu, C. Y., Beckmann, K., Smith, R. A., & Duffy, S. W. (2019). The incidence of fatal breast cancer measures the increased effectiveness of therapy in women participating in mammography screening. Cancer, 125(4), 515-523. Web.
United States Preventive Services Taskforce (2016). Breast Cancer Screening. Web.