Introduction
A mammogram is an X-ray image of the breasts taken to detect female breast cancer. Doctors use mammograms to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. This group of women does not need to start cancer screenings before age 50 since they do not have a high enough lifetime risk of developing cancer. However, women at a higher risk of developing the condition should undergo regular screening before the age of 50 (Kataoka, 2022).
Genetic mutation carriers are at an exceptionally high risk of developing breast cancer; thus, they are encouraged to have regular mammograms as early as 30. The paper answers the PICO question: “For women under 50 years, is a yearly mammogram more effective in preventing breast cancer compared to a mammogram done every three years?” Therefore, this paper aims to outline and describe the effectiveness of yearly mammograms compared to mammograms done every three years during breast cancer treatment.
Statistics and Importance of Mammography
Mammograms are a form of breast examination performed yearly and involve using low-energy X-rays to evaluate the human breast. During a mammogram, a technologist will position the breast for imaging. To obtain a clear image, the breast will need to be flattened so that it can be placed in a machine. The machine’s plastic upper plate will then be lowered to compress the breast for a few seconds while the image is taken (Desreux, 2018).
Mammography is typically performed on a woman exhibiting breast symptoms or getting a screening mammogram that reveals a change. A woman receives a minimal radiation dose from the X-rays included in each mammography. However, the amount of radiation present is extremely low. Extremely infrequently, cancer can be caused by X-rays. A woman’s lifetime risk of developing cancer is modestly reduced if she has mammograms at intervals (every three years) for twenty years.
Breast cancers found in women who had mammograms once every year were less progressed and smaller than those found in women who had them once every three years. According to the study, women who went in for mammograms annually had a higher chance of receiving stage I cancer than women who went for mammography once every three years (Smith et al., 2018). A cancer diagnosis at stage II, III, or IV was made in 24% of women who underwent annual mammography.
44% of women who underwent a mammogram on a three-year basis were diagnosed with stage II, III, or IV breast cancer. These women had all received regular mammograms. Women who got mammograms every three years were also diagnosed with bigger malignancies than those who did not. For women who underwent mammograms annually, the average tumor size was 1.4 centimeters, whereas for women who had mammograms once every three years, the average tumor size was 1.8.
Women who had mammograms once every three years had a higher risk of developing interval cancers, which are cancers that are discovered in the period between screenings. 11% of the women who underwent annual mammograms were found to have some form of breast cancer (Ho et al., 2020). Among women who went for mammograms every three years, 38% of them were found to have interval cancer (Ho et al., 2020).
A study by Ho et al. (2020) found that having mammograms less often—every three years instead of annually—was associated with more aggressive breast cancer treatments. The difference was notable: 19% of women screened triennially needed axillary lymph node surgery, which is significantly higher than the 12% of women screened yearly. Moreover, 38% of those in the three-year group received chemotherapy, compared to only 28% of those who had annual screenings.
Formulating a PICOT Question
The PICOT question is best researched using the Cochrane Library (Wiley). For the study, evaluation, and application of evidence-based practices, the database compiles systematic reviews, the gold standard of evidence (Welch Medical Library, 2021). Systematic reviews for yearly screening and treatment for a medical issue or ailment, and then examine the available evidence to determine whether or not it helps. Since experts vet these evaluations before publication, the database is a reliable resource for systematic healthcare reviews. Almost all of the articles in the database are freely available to the public.
It is recommended that women under 50 not undergo mammography. This is because, under 50, a woman’s breasts appear white on mammogram photographs. This white appearance makes it difficult to determine whether or not cancer is present because cancer typically appears white. This appearance creates a barrier. According to the findings of recent studies, an increase in age is associated with an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer (Narayan et al., 2018).
Conclusion
In conclusion, mammograms are special X-ray images of the breasts obtained to detect breast cancer in women. It is standard practice for medical professionals to utilize mammograms as a screening tool for the early detection of breast cancer. A technologist performing mammography will properly arrange the breast for the procedure. To get a good picture, the patient will have their breasts flattened by placing them in a machine and having the plastic top plate press down on them for a few seconds while the picture is taken.
Cancers discovered in women who got annual mammograms were less advanced and smaller than those found in women who had mammography every three years. Interval cancers, found between screenings, were more common among women who had triennial mammographic screening. Mammography is not advised for women under the age of 50.
References
Desreux, J. A. (2018). Breast cancer screening in young women. European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology, 230, 208-211. Web.
Ho, T. Q. H., Bissell, M. C., Kerlikowske, K., Hubbard, R. A., Sprague, B. L., Lee, C. I., & Miglioretti, D. L. (2022). Cumulative probability of false-positive results after 10 years of screening with digital breast tomosynthesis vs digital mammography. JAMA Network Open, 5(3), e222440-e222440. Web.
Kataoka, M. (2022). Mammographic Density for Personalized Breast Cancer Risk. Radiology, 222129. Web.
Narayan, A. K., Elkin, E. B., Lehman, C. D., & Morris, E. A. (2018). Quantifying performance thresholds for recommending screening mammography: a revealed preference analysis of USPSTF guidelines. Breast cancer research and treatment, 172(2), 463-468. Web.
Smith, R. A., Andrews, K. S., Brooks, D., Fedewa, S. A., Manassaram‐Baptiste, D., Saslow, D., & Wender, R. C. (2018). Cancer screening in the United States, 2018: a review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and current issues in cancer screening. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 68(4), 297-316. Web.
Welch Medical Library (2021). Databases for nursing research. Nursing resources. The John Hopkins University of Medicine. Web.
