Does Screening Mammography Reduce Breast Cancer Mortality?

Australian study spanning three decades suggests the answer is no — adjuvant therapy deserves credit.

Effective breast cancer screening should identify women with early breast cancer (Stage I and II) while reducing incidence of advanced malignancies (Stage III and IV). To assess the relative influences of screening and adjuvant therapy on breast cancer mortality trends, investigators analyzed cancer registry and mammographic screening data from 1982 through 2013 for 76,630 women with invasive cancer in the Australian state of Victoria (where women aged 50–69 are offered biennial screening).

Among women aged 50–69, screening rates increased from 48% in 1994 to 57% in 2012. By 1999, 74% of women with early breast cancer were receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy (tamoxifen). Uptake of adjuvant chemotherapy was 72% for premenopausal and 29% for …

Reviewing Author

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Does Screening Mammography Reduce Breast Cancer Mortality?

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Reviewing Author