New research provides further evidence for annual breast cancer screening, contradicting recent recommendations that women be screened every two years.
People who undergo annual screenings are less likely to develop late-stage cancer and have better overall survival rates, according to a new study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.
“Only about 65% of women over 40 are screened for breast cancer, and only about half of those women attend screening annually — in part because of conflicting guidelines on recommended screening intervals,” lead author Margarita Zuley, M.D., professor and chief of the Breast Imaging Section in the Department of Radiology at Pitt and UPMC, said in a press release about the findings. “Our study shows that annual screening offers a significant benefit over biennial screening, even in premenopausal women.”
In April, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released updated recommendations on breast cancer screening. The new guidelines recommend that all women at average risk for cancer have a mammogram every two years starting at age 40. Previously, the recommended age was 50 and the recommended interval between screenings was one year.
Many experts, doctors and patient advocates immediately criticized the guidelines because most medical societies, including the American College of Radiology, support annual screenings – a recommendation supported by numerous studies.
