Advances in detection of early breast cancer

Detection of early breast cancer is our most important weapon in reducing mortality from the disease. The most effective means to achieve this goal is mass screening of presumably well women. This is the lesson from the HIP study, which has shown a persistent substantial reduction in death rate in 14 years of follow-up. In addition to palpation, modalities used must include mammography, which is our only means to detect the nonpalpable cancer.