Advances in Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention

Advances in Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention

ROCHESTER, MINN. -- Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource features a two-part series detailing advances in breast cancer screening, prevention and treatment. This month covers screening and prevention. The March issue will outline advances in breast cancer treatment.

Early detection of breast cancer is the key to survival. Mammography and clinical breast exams are the most commonly used screening tools, but mammograms can miss about 15 percent of cancers, especially in women with dense breast tissue. And three out of four areas that look problematic on mammogram will ultimately prove to be benign. The use of computers to double check mammograms (CAD, or computer-aided detection) has been shown to increase cancer detection by 19.5 percent. Digital mammography, where X-ray images are computerized, can enhance the radiologist's ability to identify subtle differences in breast tissues.

Other advances in screening for women at high risk for breast cancer include the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a technique called ductal lavage.

Two main areas of interest for breast cancer prevention are chemoprevention -- the use of drugs (Tamoxifen, for example) to reduce cancer risk -- and genetic testing, which can assess risk and identify people who may benefit from gene therapy research.

Shelly Plutowski507-284-5005(days)507-284-2511 (evenings)e-mail: [email protected]

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-351-8963, extension 9PK1.