open access
Mammography screening — a recognised standard
open access
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common global malignancy found in women and likewise so in Poland; newly diagnosed cases being respectively ≈ 1.7 million and 17 thousand annually. For the last 30 years, population screening has been adopted in the developed world. In Poland, breast screening attendance is however around 45%, what is still lower than in highly developed countries (above 70%). Breast cancer mortality has also declined more slowly in Poland. Following the introduction of breast screening, the rapid decreases in mortality demonstrated in Western Europe and the USA prove its effectiveness. Observations and data accumulated over many years through screening have nevertheless generated debate regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment of breast cancer. This issue has been summarised in the WHO Position Paper that recommends continuing breast screening whilst also ensuring that patients are able to make informed decisions.
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common global malignancy found in women and likewise so in Poland; newly diagnosed cases being respectively ≈ 1.7 million and 17 thousand annually. For the last 30 years, population screening has been adopted in the developed world. In Poland, breast screening attendance is however around 45%, what is still lower than in highly developed countries (above 70%). Breast cancer mortality has also declined more slowly in Poland. Following the introduction of breast screening, the rapid decreases in mortality demonstrated in Western Europe and the USA prove its effectiveness. Observations and data accumulated over many years through screening have nevertheless generated debate regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment of breast cancer. This issue has been summarised in the WHO Position Paper that recommends continuing breast screening whilst also ensuring that patients are able to make informed decisions.
Keywords
breast cancer, population screening, overdiagnosis
About this articleTitle
Mammography screening — a recognised standard
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Article type
Other materials agreed with the Editors
Pages
418-421
Published online
2017-03-29
Page views
858
Article views/downloads
999
DOI
Bibliographic record
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2016;66(5):418-421.
Keywords
breast cancer
population screening
overdiagnosis
Authors
Joanna Didkowska
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