Screening for Breast Cancer Mammography Benefits

Benefits or risks through mammography screening?

04/07/2012

The Federal Office for Radiation Protection has commissioned the University of Münster to examine in the course of a research project from July of this year, how useful the breast cancer screening in the context of screening for women. For years, scientists have been arguing over the meaning and nonsense of the German mammography screening program. A Norwegian study suggests that due to radiation exposure, the study does more harm than good, at least for young women.

Mammography for women over 50
In the framework of this research project, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection is having experts from the University Medical Center in Münster examine whether the mammography screening examination reduces the mortality of women if breast cancer was detected at an early stage. Since 2009 women between the ages of 50 and 69 years can have a mammogram performed every two years. At the same time, however, the subjects are exposed to a not inconsiderable radiation exposure, which can damage the cells as well.
The screening program was launched to lower the mortality rate of designated age groups. It is precisely this project that will be examined in more detail. "The University of Münster will use this long-term study to scientifically analyze whether this goal is achieved. The benefits of the program must be greater than the potential risks, "emphasized Wolfgang Weiss, Department Head at BfS. Every examination is associated with "additional radiation exposure," says Weiss. Therefore, the study should find out whether the breast cancer mortality actually decreases and diseases due to the radiation exposure do not rise disproportionately significantly.

No reliable studies in Germany yet
So far, no studies have been undertaken on the program in Germany, which is why it is unclear whether and to what extent the breast cancer mortality rate is even lowered at all. However, international studies indicate that there is a "benefit from the early breast cancer screening program for women aged 50 to 69 years". Nevertheless, many researchers doubt whether a risk-benefit analysis also leads to a positive result. According to the Federal Office, international studies have shown that the benefits outweigh the "radiation risk in this age group". Therefore, Germany had also introduced the mammography breast cancer screening in 2009. However, it has been shown that the risk of radiation predominates in young women, which is why such a screening is only undertaken for women over the age of 50. In addition, the risk of breast cancer is lower in younger women, which is why such investigations "not nationwide, but only on reasonable grounds," explains Weiss.

Critics say breast cancer screening mammography often gives false results. A Norwegian study also showed that out of 1,000 women who go for radiation, four die from breast cancer. Out of 1,000 non-screening women, five women die of breast cancer. Thus, only one woman in 1000 can be saved from dying from breast cancer if she attends the check-up. As such, this low rate is not a major concern, but it is likely to be of little benefit. In screening, it also happens again and again that radiologists or gynecologists discover even abnormalities in actually healthy women. Then more stressful examinations and sometimes even surgeries are performed, which would actually be completely unnecessary. Thus, the researchers found that in about 20 percent of those operated the tumor would never have led to health problems. A Dutch study found that the screening reduces breast cancer death rates by 31 percent.

First research results in seven years
Whether breast cancer mortality can actually be lowered requires a "research phase of at least ten years". In the first two years, the experts at the University of Münster want to clarify how the effects of mammography can be captured. Only after the actual study is done. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection expects the first results to be ready in about seven years. The study is supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Cooperation Association Mammography.

Breast cancer most common cancer in women
Every year around 72,000 women in Germany contract breast cancer. With a share of 32 percent, the tumor disease is one of the most common cancer diseases in women. According to statistics, every eighth woman falls ill with a tumor in the breast during her lifetime. Although the breast cancer incidence rate has been rising for years, this is primarily due to demographic change, because as life expectancy increases, so does the occurrence of malignant tumors. In a European comparison, Germany has the highest breast cancer death rate. (Sb)

Read about breast cancer screening:
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