Is it time to give up your annual mammogram?

If you dread your annual mammogram, you’re not alone. For many women, this breast cancer screening examination can be painful, stressful, and just an overall hassle. You may wonder, are you old enough to give it up? If you’re over age 75, the answer is: maybe or maybe not. The fact is, breast cancer screening isn’t right for all older adults, but there’s no expert consensus on the right age to stop. This is mostly because scientific evidence in this area is lacking, says Dr. Kathryn Rexrode, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief of the Division of Women’s Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Each woman really needs to decide whether to continue mammography based on the risks and benefits of the procedure for her unique circumstances. Weighing the decision What is known is that breast cancer is a disease that disproportionately affects older women, says Dr. Rexrode. About half of the women diagnosed each year are over 60, and 20% are over 70. “However, the rate of new cancers does seem to decline slightly in women over the age of 75,” she says. A 2012 study in the European Journal of Public Health found that some 3.3% of women over 75 will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Of those women, one in three will die from the disease. “Advantages of mammography include early detection of cancer, and this early detection may facilitate earlier access to treatments,” says Dr. Toni Golen, editor in chief of Harvard Women’s Health Wat...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Breast Cancer Healthy Aging Managing your health care Screening Women's Health Source Type: blogs