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What do women want to know?
1Center for Medical Consumers, New York, NY 10012-1090, USA.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Mammography screening promotion began before scientific evidence supported its benefit for younger women. Many women now overestimate mammography
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- The American Cancer Society (ACS) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) promoted mammography for women over 35 in the 1970s, predating scientific evidence of benefit for younger demographics.
- Industry interests amplified promotional efforts from 1985, disseminating exaggerated claims regarding mammography's cure rates.
- The NCI's later withdrawal of screening recommendations for women in their forties occurred after widespread public overestimation of mammography's efficacy and personal breast cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the historical promotion of mammography screening.
- To address public overestimation of breast cancer risk and mammography benefits.
- To highlight the impact of the NIH Consensus Conference Report on informing women about mammography screening realities.
Main Methods:
- Historical review of mammography promotion by the ACS and NCI.
- Analysis of industry influence on public health messaging.
- Discussion of the implications of the NIH Consensus Conference Report.
Main Results:
- Early promotion of mammography lacked scientific backing for younger women.
- Exaggerated claims by vested interests influenced public perception.
- Most breast cancers are not significantly impacted by early detection due to tumor aggressiveness or slow growth.
Conclusions:
- Public understanding of breast cancer risk and mammography effectiveness is often overestimated.
- The NIH Consensus Conference Report offers critical information regarding mammography screening limitations.
- Improved patient education is crucial, particularly concerning the risks and diagnostic uncertainties of mammography, including ductal carcinoma in situ.
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