Fewer Mammograms Means More Breast Cancer Deaths

Jan. 26, 2007 — -- It is a small statistic in a straightforward report. But its impact and implications are potentially huge.

From 2000 to 2005, the percentage of women age 40 and over who received a mammogram within the previous two years fell from 76.4 percent to 74.6 percent -- a 1.8 percent drop.

A 1.8 percent drop doesn't seem like much, so why all the fuss?

Because in real terms, this means that thousands of women may have undetected breast cancer and could potentially miss the opportunity to save their own lives.

This wasn't really unexpected by those of us who try to keep up with current mammography practices.

My colleagues at the American Cancer Society noted a year ago that there had been a decline in mammography-screening compliance. We were also aware that there appeared to be a decline in mammography in women on Medicare, a group that is at particularly high risk of developing breast cancer.

During the course of the past year, we have had discussions with several different groups, including insurers and quality-assurance organizations, who were concerned about their own observations that mammography-screening rates were dropping.

Then, at the San Antonio breast cancer conference in December, there was a stunning report that from 2002 to 2003 the number of new breast cancer cases diagnosed in the United States had actually decreased 7 percent.

We have been making considerable progress in reducing deaths from breast cancer, despite what has been up until recently a continuing increase in the number of women diagnosed with this disease.

More recently, the American Cancer Society reported that the number of new cases diagnosed in year-to-year comparisons actually appears to be leveling off.

But what will happen in the future with respect to deaths from breast cancer if the trend detected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues, is a source of great concern.

We know that annual mammograms for women at risk for breast cancer significantly decrease deaths from this disease.

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld is deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society. You can view the full blog by clicking here.