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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : June 27, 2014 9:56 AM IST
The largest study of its kind to date has shown that three-dimensional imaging finds more breast cancers than traditional mammography alone, according to research published on Tuesday. The technique, called 3D mammography, or tomosynthesis, was approved by US regulators in 2011 after initial research showed it could reduce false-positives and improve cancer detection. 'This study confirms what we already know: 3D mammography finds more of the invasive, harmful cancers we want found and saves women the anxiety and cost of having additional exams for what turns out to be a false alarm,' said study co-author Donna Plecha, director of breast imaging at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association included nearly half a million mammograms taken at 13 different US sites. (Read: Detecting breast cancer early can add years to your life!)
It found a 41 percent increase in invasive cancers found with 3D imaging over digital mammography alone, and a 29 percent increase in the detection of all kinds of breast cancer. The researchers also found that 3D technology resulted in 15 percent fewer recalls for false alarms. However, the study was not randomized and did not focus on whether the increase in detection translated into longer survival after diagnosis, so more research is needed, the authors said. Breast cancer kills some 40,000 women in the United States each year. An accompanying editorial in JAMA described the results as 'promising' but not enough to settle the long-running debate over how often women should be screened for breast cancer and what type of technology should be used. 'Tomosynthesis is likely an advance over digital mammography for breast cancer screening, but fundamental questions about screening remain, with all available technologies,' said the editorial by doctors at the University of Toronto and the Medical University of South Carolina.
'Clear consensus is lacking on when to screen, how often, and with what tools, or even which screen-detected cancers could be managed more conservatively,' they wrote. The editorial called on the US National Institutes of Health to fund a multi-site randomized trial that compares modern technology to address these questions. Currently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends women get one mammogram per year starting at age 40. (Read: 6 breast cancer symptoms you should never ignore)
How to detect breast cancer early?
Breast cancer is a condition that is quickly becoming a very common occurrence, and experts say that although a person might be genetically predisposed to the condition, there are steps that can be taken to catch it early on. Everything from when you go for the screening tests, whom you go to and how often you get the tests done matter in the process of eliminating the possibility of suffering from the dreaded disease. In this post we give you 10 tips that you should keep handy while getting tested for breast cancer.
Get a mammogram when you are younger, rather than when you are older:
Over 40? Its time you got regular mammograms. According to the American Cancer Society women should begin getting annual mammograms at the age of 40. This is because the early detection of breast cancer offers the best chance for a cure.
Choose the right man for the job!
You can get a mammography at any hospital but getting the right diagnosis after the test is what is worth its weight in gold. Choose a doctor who is experienced in reading mammography and has worked with a number of patients previously. His/her experience gives them the added advantage of identifying any problems in your reports. This is where an inexperienced physician may fail.
Pick digital over conventional
A digital mammography is much more accurate when it comes to detecting any problems in women with dense breast tissue especially found in women below the age of 40. Moreover digital scans do a better job of detecting cancers when compared to the traditional film mammography.
Schedulethe date foryour test carefully
most women put off going for a mammography because they are scared about how painful the test is likely to be. But remember that a mammography should not be painful. To help reduce the amount of pain try to schedule your test after your menses (monthly periods), so that the breast tissues are less sensitive. During the test if you do experience pain and discomfort, be sure to tell the technician about it so that he/she can help you feel more comfortable. If the test has really gone off badly, you could try taking over-the-counter medication to help relieve some of the pain and inflammation. (Read: 10 tips to detect breast cancer early)
With inputs from AFP
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