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Risk-Based Screening Catches Cancers Earlier, Study Finds
16 Dec
Summary
- Risk-based screening identified cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage.
- Fewer advanced cancers (Stage IIB or higher) were found with personalized screening.
- 30% of women with high-risk genetics had no known family history of breast cancer.
Tailoring breast cancer screening to individual risk factors may be more effective than the standard annual mammogram, according to a recent study. The research found that women who received screening based on their personal risk profile were diagnosed with breast cancers at an earlier and more treatable stage.
This personalized approach involves assessing age, genetics, lifestyle, health history, and breast density. Compared to women receiving annual mammograms, those in the risk-based screening group had fewer diagnoses of advanced cancers (Stage IIB or higher). Notably, the study revealed that 30% of women with genetic markers for increased breast cancer risk had no reported family history, highlighting a gap in current screening protocols.
While the findings suggest a significant potential to improve screening and prevention, some organizations, like the American College of Radiology, have expressed caution. They cite insufficient data and concerns about participant adherence to screening patterns. Nevertheless, researchers believe these results could lead to substantial changes in clinical guidelines and practices for breast cancer screening.
