\nBreast cancer screenings past the age of 70 may be unnecessary\u2014and even harmful\u2014for some women, a new study suggests.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nThe research, published earlier this month in the Annals of Internal Medicine<\/em>, raises questions about the risks of overdiagnosis and the efficacy of blanket recommendations that apply to all women in this age group.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cA key message from our research is: There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all solution for older women,\u201d Ilana Richman, MD, MHS, an internal medicine specialist and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, and the first author of the new study, told Health<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t like to think about medical interventions being harmful,\u201d she said, \u201cbut they have risks and benefits.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nThe study highlights the importance of making an individualized plan with your doctor, Melanie Chellman, MD, a diagnostic radiologist at Cleveland Clinic, told Health<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIndividual situations vary, and what\u2019s good for the average person may not be good for a majority of people,\u201d she explained. \u201cThat average is a moving target.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nBelow, experts explain what the current guidelines are for breast cancer screenings in women over 70, what factors should be considered before discontinuing screenings, and how too much screening can be harmful to some people.\n<\/p>\n
![\"Older](\"https:\/\/www.health.com\/thmb\/eE_1xguqMjtP_rrBMoxHHNlc47Q=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()\/GettyImages-1138394976-12f2027e57fb45ada24d1aa4b4be814d.jpg\")
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Getty Images \/ FatCamera<\/p>\n
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How Changes in Breast Density Over Time May Influence Breast Cancer Risk<\/span><\/p>\n
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What Overdiagnosis Means and Why It's Harmful <\/span> <\/h2>\n\nThe average age for breast cancer diagnosis is 62, according to the American Cancer Society.<\/span> But breast cancer screening is available to women years after the average age of diagnosis has passed.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe research team analyzed data from 54,635 women, looking at breast cancer diagnosis among screened and unscreened women in three different age groups: 70 to 74 years; 75 to 84 years; and 85 and older.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nThey found that screened women in all age groups were more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer and that the risk of overdiagnosis increased with age.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nThe study defined \u201coverdiagnosis\u201d as the detection of a cancer that would not have caused symptoms in a person\u2019s lifetime.<\/span> Richman explained that many people see the detection and treatment of all cancers as beneficial, but that isn\u2019t always the case.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIn the case of overdiagnosis, we find a breast cancer on screening, but that cancer would not have been destined to cause symptoms. It would have remained dormant,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe detection\u2014and potential treatment plan\u2014can be scary.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWomen who have an abnormal mammogram have to come back for at least additional imaging. [Potentially] a biopsy and ultrasound,\u201d Richman said. \u201cThat experience is pretty anxiety-provoking.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nOverdiagnosis can take a toll on the body as well as the mind; sometimes, cancers that would never have produced symptoms end up being treated with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, Richman said.\n<\/p>\n
\nStudy Limitations<\/h3>\n
The new study authors noted that their research was limited in that it only looked at the risk of overdiagnosis; therefore, they weren\u2019t able to draw conclusions about all benefits and risks of breast cancer screenings.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAn editorial written by researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine stressed the downsides of overdiagnosis, noting how it often leads to overtreatment, which can then result in an increased risk of complications for older patients.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cOverdiagnosis…is associated with some harmful downstream consequences for both the individual patient and for public health,\u201d the researchers wrote.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n
FDA's Updated Mammogram Regulations Aim to Protect People With Dense Breasts<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> <\/p>\n
Guidelines on When to End Breast Cancer Screenings Are Unclear <\/span> <\/h2>\n\nThe question of when to stop breast cancer screenings is a murky one, Chellman said. This is because health authorities tend to disagree on the answer.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cDifferent medical organizations provide different guidelines,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n
\n- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)<\/strong>: Women can stop being screened for breast cancer at age 75.<\/span><\/li>\n
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)<\/strong>: Healthy women should continue breast cancer screenings as long as they have a life expectancy of at least 10 years.<\/span><\/li>\n
- American College of Radiology (ACR)<\/strong>: Women should continue breast cancer screening past the age of 74 \u201cunless severe comorbidities limit life expectancy.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nThe confusion stems in part from a lack of research on older women, Richman said.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFundamentally, older women were left out of the large, randomized trials done between the 1960s and 1980s, concluding in the 1990s,\u201d she explained. \u201cThere\u2019s this huge gap in our understanding, and when there\u2019s a gap, we have trouble advising [patients].\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s also difficult to make a recommendation that will work for all women over the age of 74 since people age differently.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThere is a wide variety of health levels,\u201d Chellman said. \u201cMany women are medically fragile early in life, while others are active into their eighties.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Breast Cancer Symptoms Every Person Needs To Know<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> <\/p>\n
Things to Consider When Evaluating Breast Cancer Screening <\/span> <\/h2>\n\nThe lack of data and differing approaches from health authorities can make it difficult for women to determine when to stop getting mammograms.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIn the end, the woman needs to make an individual choice with her doctor,\u201d Chellman said.\n<\/p>\n
\nRichman explained that doctors consider many different factors when helping a patient decide whether to continue screening: other medical conditions, their risk for breast cancer, insurance coverage, and whether they\u2019re physically capable of having a mammogram.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen you get a mammogram, you have to be able to position [yourself] a certain way,\u201d Chellman said. \u201cIf you can\u2019t, it\u2019s not very helpful. The patient has to be orthopedically flexible enough to get into the machine.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nAnother consideration is whether or not the patient wants to continue screenings or feels safe discontinuing them.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cSome people are fine being done with screenings; other women want the security [they offer],\u201d Richman said. \u201cPeople\u2019s preferences matter, too.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s also worth noting that some women may want to continue screenings past the age of 74, even if they wouldn\u2019t necessarily want invasive treatments should cancer be detected.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cScreening itself is just gathering information,\u201d Chellman said.\n<\/p>\n
\nIf cancer is detected, doctors can help their patients determine what to do with that information, which may or may not include treatment. Ultimately, the new research emphasizes the importance of communicating with your doctor to decide what\u2019s best for you.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t like to confront life expectancy,\u201d Richman said. \u201cBut doctors can help people make screening decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New research found that breast cancer screenings may be unnecessary for women over 70. The data showed that the likelihood of overdiagnosis\u2014the detection of a cancer that would not have caused symptoms in a person\u2019s lifetime\u2014continues to go up with a woman's age. Experts recommend that patients talk to their doctor to decide what breast […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1241,410],"tags":[1242,116],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17348"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe question of when to stop breast cancer screenings is a murky one, Chellman said. This is because health authorities tend to disagree on the answer.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cDifferent medical organizations provide different guidelines,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n
- \n
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)<\/strong>: Women can stop being screened for breast cancer at age 75.<\/span><\/li>\n
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)<\/strong>: Healthy women should continue breast cancer screenings as long as they have a life expectancy of at least 10 years.<\/span><\/li>\n
- American College of Radiology (ACR)<\/strong>: Women should continue breast cancer screening past the age of 74 \u201cunless severe comorbidities limit life expectancy.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nThe confusion stems in part from a lack of research on older women, Richman said.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFundamentally, older women were left out of the large, randomized trials done between the 1960s and 1980s, concluding in the 1990s,\u201d she explained. \u201cThere\u2019s this huge gap in our understanding, and when there\u2019s a gap, we have trouble advising [patients].\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s also difficult to make a recommendation that will work for all women over the age of 74 since people age differently.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThere is a wide variety of health levels,\u201d Chellman said. \u201cMany women are medically fragile early in life, while others are active into their eighties.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Breast Cancer Symptoms Every Person Needs To Know<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> <\/p>\n
Things to Consider When Evaluating Breast Cancer Screening <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\nThe lack of data and differing approaches from health authorities can make it difficult for women to determine when to stop getting mammograms.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIn the end, the woman needs to make an individual choice with her doctor,\u201d Chellman said.\n<\/p>\n
\nRichman explained that doctors consider many different factors when helping a patient decide whether to continue screening: other medical conditions, their risk for breast cancer, insurance coverage, and whether they\u2019re physically capable of having a mammogram.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen you get a mammogram, you have to be able to position [yourself] a certain way,\u201d Chellman said. \u201cIf you can\u2019t, it\u2019s not very helpful. The patient has to be orthopedically flexible enough to get into the machine.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nAnother consideration is whether or not the patient wants to continue screenings or feels safe discontinuing them.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cSome people are fine being done with screenings; other women want the security [they offer],\u201d Richman said. \u201cPeople\u2019s preferences matter, too.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s also worth noting that some women may want to continue screenings past the age of 74, even if they wouldn\u2019t necessarily want invasive treatments should cancer be detected.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cScreening itself is just gathering information,\u201d Chellman said.\n<\/p>\n
\nIf cancer is detected, doctors can help their patients determine what to do with that information, which may or may not include treatment. Ultimately, the new research emphasizes the importance of communicating with your doctor to decide what\u2019s best for you.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t like to confront life expectancy,\u201d Richman said. \u201cBut doctors can help people make screening decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New research found that breast cancer screenings may be unnecessary for women over 70. The data showed that the likelihood of overdiagnosis\u2014the detection of a cancer that would not have caused symptoms in a person\u2019s lifetime\u2014continues to go up with a woman's age. Experts recommend that patients talk to their doctor to decide what breast […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1241,410],"tags":[1242,116],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17348"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}