Misinformation and Facts about Breast Cancer Screening
Quality medical practice is based on science and evidence. For over a half-century, the efficacy of breast cancer screening has been challenged, particularly for women aged 40–49. As each false claim has been raised, it has been addressed and refuted based on science and evidence. Nevertheless, misi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Current Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/29/8/445 |
| _version_ | 1797410723988504576 |
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| author | Daniel B. Kopans |
| author_facet | Daniel B. Kopans |
| author_sort | Daniel B. Kopans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Quality medical practice is based on science and evidence. For over a half-century, the efficacy of breast cancer screening has been challenged, particularly for women aged 40–49. As each false claim has been raised, it has been addressed and refuted based on science and evidence. Nevertheless, misinformation continues to be promoted, resulting in confusion for women and their physicians. Early detection has been proven to save lives for women aged 40–74 in randomized controlled trials of mammography screening. Observational studies, failure analyses, and incidence of death studies have provided evidence that there is a major benefit when screening is introduced to the general population. In large part due to screening, there has been an over 40% decline in deaths from breast cancer since 1990. Nevertheless, misinformation about screening continues to be promoted, adding to the confusion. Despite claims to the contrary, a careful reading of the guidelines issued by major groups such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American College of Physicians shows that they all agree that most lives are saved by screening starting at the age of 40. There is no scientific support for using the age of 50 as a threshold for screening. All women should be provided with the facts and not false information about breast cancer screening so that they can make “informed decisions” for themselves about whether to participate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:33:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bbeeb6c7544495c90a00faf1de7b576 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1198-0052 1718-7729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:33:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bbeeb6c7544495c90a00faf1de7b5762023-12-03T13:30:48ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292022-08-012985644565410.3390/curroncol29080445Misinformation and Facts about Breast Cancer ScreeningDaniel B. Kopans0Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USAQuality medical practice is based on science and evidence. For over a half-century, the efficacy of breast cancer screening has been challenged, particularly for women aged 40–49. As each false claim has been raised, it has been addressed and refuted based on science and evidence. Nevertheless, misinformation continues to be promoted, resulting in confusion for women and their physicians. Early detection has been proven to save lives for women aged 40–74 in randomized controlled trials of mammography screening. Observational studies, failure analyses, and incidence of death studies have provided evidence that there is a major benefit when screening is introduced to the general population. In large part due to screening, there has been an over 40% decline in deaths from breast cancer since 1990. Nevertheless, misinformation about screening continues to be promoted, adding to the confusion. Despite claims to the contrary, a careful reading of the guidelines issued by major groups such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American College of Physicians shows that they all agree that most lives are saved by screening starting at the age of 40. There is no scientific support for using the age of 50 as a threshold for screening. All women should be provided with the facts and not false information about breast cancer screening so that they can make “informed decisions” for themselves about whether to participate.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/29/8/445breastcancerscreening |
| spellingShingle | Daniel B. Kopans Misinformation and Facts about Breast Cancer Screening Current Oncology breast cancer screening |
| title | Misinformation and Facts about Breast Cancer Screening |
| title_full | Misinformation and Facts about Breast Cancer Screening |
| title_fullStr | Misinformation and Facts about Breast Cancer Screening |
| title_full_unstemmed | Misinformation and Facts about Breast Cancer Screening |
| title_short | Misinformation and Facts about Breast Cancer Screening |
| title_sort | misinformation and facts about breast cancer screening |
| topic | breast cancer screening |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/29/8/445 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielbkopans misinformationandfactsaboutbreastcancerscreening |