What is Breast Cancer Screening?

Breast cancer screening becomes necessary when doctors look for signs of breast cancer in those who don't show symptoms of having the condition. Hence, early detection through screening for breast cancer leads to successful treatment.

Screening is necessary for women's health care because it has been proven to control breast cancer deaths.

What are the most reliable screening methods for breast cancer?

There are various screening tests for breast cancer, which include mammograms, and many women use these for breast cancer screening. These same tests are often used in diagnosing breast cancer.

Mammograms

This is the taking of X-ray images of the breasts.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Breast

MRI of the breast uses radio waves, magnets, and computers to make detailed images of the inner parts of the breasts, with no radiation needed during this test. If you are considered at higher risk of getting breast cancer, you might have an MRI of the breast in addition to mammography. This is because MRI is more sensitive at detecting cancers than mammograms.

If you experience dense breasts, your doctor may suggest you have an MRI of the breasts in addition to mammography. But it is not clear if extra testing using MRI provides any health benefits in women with dense breasts. Find out more information about dense breasts.

Breast Ultrasound

Breast ultrasound utilizes sound waves to visualize structures inside the body. If you have dense breasts, you might be required to have an ultrasound of the breasts in addition to mammography. But it is not clear whether additional ultrasound testing provides any health benefits.

Clinical Breast Examination

A clinical breast examination is the physical examination of the breast by a health practitioner. In the process, the doctor will physically examine your breasts and underarms for any lumps or other abnormalities. A clinical breast examination alone does not qualify as a reliable screening method for breast cancer.

Breast Self-Examination

All women should understand how their breasts normally feel so that they can discuss any changes with their doctors. Although you may have undergone a normal mammogram in the past, you must notify your doctor of any abnormalities that you may feel. However, self-examinations do not qualify as a breast cancer screening test on their own.

What are the advantages and potential risks of routine breast cancer screening?

Any cancer screening has both advantages and disadvantages. One advantage of breast cancer screening is that early detection of the disease allows for timely treatment.

The possible adverse outcomes of breast cancer screening are:

• FALSE POSITIVES: False positives can result in psychological and emotional trauma and the need for further investigations like biopsy that can lead to complications. False positive results occur more often in younger women, in women with denser breasts, in women who had previous breast biopsy, in women with family history of breast cancer, and in women who use estrogen (such as hormone replacement therapy after menopause).
• OVERDIAGNOSIS & OVERTREATMENT: Certain cancers identified through screening may never cause health issues and would not be treated if they were found. Earlier identification of these cancers would not improve a person's health and survival; however, it would cause the person to suffer the negative effects of treatment.
• LATE DIAGNOSIS: False negatives can delay diagnosis of cancer. False negative results occur more frequently in women with denser breasts. Late diagnosis can also occur when a woman does not seek medical advice due to symptoms that might indicate the presence of interval breast cancer after she received her normal screening results.
• Radiation exposure: Radiation from mammography has the potential to cause cancer; however, the risk is quite low.

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