Breast Cancer: Screening
Based on randomized population-based observational studies, the article highlights the efficiency of mammography screening in reducing the deaths of women to breast cancer by providing fair-quality evidence and recommends that women who are 50 years and older have biannual mammography screening. The findings of the randomized studies indicate that deaths due to breast cancer is significantly reduced with screening (“Evidence Summary: Screening for Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer: United States Preventive Services Taskforce,” 2016). The meta-analysis reported a reduction of 25 percent based on seven incidence-related mortality studies and a decrease of 31 percent based on seven case-control studies. In conclusion, with mammography screening, breast cancer-related deaths are generally reduced, despite the degree of the effect being minimal. For women 50 years of age or older, advanced cases of breast cancer decreased with screening.
Today, numerous studies are documenting the efficiency of organized mammographic screening although the benefit-to-harm ratio is still a subject of discussion. The article also highlighted that their source of information came from studies with different professional interests, study populations, study duration, and study designs (“Evidence Summary:United States Preventive Services Taskforce,” 2016). The researchers stratified the analysis by age group to compensate for demographic variability and generate clinically relevant estimates. The ethical solution provided was justified because the effectiveness of mammogram screening was able to be recommended for women between the ages of 50 to 69.
The mammogram screening system was population-based, and it proved to be helpful since valuable knowledge about breast cancer incidence and risk factors is provided. Also, they demonstrate age differences in mammogram screening efficacy. The population-based study also permitted the study of multiple outcomes (Ronnie et al., 2011). From the study findings and the efficiency of mammogram screening in reducing breast cancer cases in older women, the positive results obtained can be used as a specific screening program in the battle against breast cancer in the formulation of policies for implementing mammogram screening.
References
Evidence Summary: Screening for Breast Cancer: United States Preventive Services Taskforce. (2016). Retrieved 13 July 2016, from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/document/evidence-summary-screening-for-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-screening
Ronnie, G., Ve, R., Velumuri, L., & Asokan, R. (2011). Importance of population-based studies in clinical practice. Indian Journal Of Ophthalmology, 59(7), 11. doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.73681