Public health and WHOMammography—a life-saving test or a source of unnecessary fear?
- Jerzy Jaśkowski — Mammografia, czyli jak ogłupia się kobiety
- Breast cancer screening: a dividing controversy. · Tunis Med 2020
- Screening for breast cancer with mammography. · Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013
- Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention. · Ann Intern Med 2023
- Breast cancer screening in average and high-risk women. · Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2022
- Breast Cancer Screening: An Overview of Risk-specific Screening and Risk Assessment. · Clin Obstet Gynecol 2022
- Orthomolecular Medicine News Service — Bone Health and Osteoporosis: An Orthomolecular Perspective
- Orthomolecular Medicine News Service — AWARENESS? WHAT AWARENESS?
Jerzy Jaśkowski claims that mammography most often detects small, harmless changes and links more frequent screening with a higher incidence of breast cancer.
- According to him, for every “real” cancer, the test finds five changes that do not require treatment.
- He says that 106 additional cases of cancer were diagnosed in the mammography group, while mortality was similar to that in the group that had physical examinations.
- He also claims that false-positive results can lead to unnecessary treatment and that the X-rays used in mammography cause cancer.
What the authors write
Jerzy Jaśkowski links more frequent mammography screening with a higher incidence of breast cancer.
Jerzy Jaśkowski claims that mammography most often detects small, harmless changes and has no effect on fatal cancers.
Jerzy Jaśkowski believes that for every “real” cancer, mammography finds five changes that do not require treatment.
Jerzy Jaśkowski says that 106 additional cases of cancer were diagnosed in the mammography group, but a similar number of women died in that group as in the group that had physical examinations.
Jerzy Jaśkowski says that false-positive results accounted for 22% of diagnoses, and that earlier analyses found rates of 22% to 56% over a 10-year period.
Jerzy Jaśkowski claims that mortality was the same among women who had mammograms and those who had physical examinations.
Jerzy Jaśkowski claims that the X-rays used in mammography cause cancer.
Jerzy Jaśkowski claims that mammography screening puts women with a BRCA1/2 mutation at particular risk of radiation-induced cancer.
Jerzy Jaśkowski says that the medical press does not mention the risks associated with mammography.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 5 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 28 882.
A review estimated that screening reduces breast cancer mortality, although it also carries a risk of overdiagnosis.
Aim of the study: To report the conclusions of articles and reviews assessing the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening worldwide and in Tunisia.
Results: We reviewed 36 articles published between 2001 and 2018 assessing the benefits of breast cancer screening. Randomized trials estimate that breast cancer screening reduces mortality by 15–30%. However, overdiagnosis is estimated at 0–50%. Breast cancer screening has been useful in the fight against cancer. In the era of innovative and effective treatments, breast cancer screening remains controversial because of the potential for overdiagnosis. However, this concept still needs to be defined more precisely and estimated more accurately.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A pooled analysis of seven trials found lower breast cancer mortality in the mammography screening group, but the authors noted that the result may have been biased.
Aim of the study: A variety of estimates of the benefits and harms of mammographic screening for breast cancer have been published, and national policies vary. To assess the effect of screening for breast cancer with mammography on mortality and morbidity.
Results: Eight eligible trials were identified. We excluded one trial because randomization had failed to produce comparable groups. The eligible trials included 600,000 women in the analyses, aged 39 to 74 years. Three trials with adequate randomization did not show a statistically significant reduction in breast cancer mortality at 13 years (relative risk (RR) 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79 to 1.02); four trials with suboptimal randomization showed a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality, with an RR of 0.75 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.83). The RR for all seven trials combined was 0.81 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.87). We found that breast cancer mortality was an unreliable outcome that was biased in favor of screening, mainly because of differential misclassification of cause of death.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
The summary says that mammography screening reduces breast cancer mortality, although the benefits vary by age.
Aim of the study: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. women, and its incidence increases with age.
Results: Assessing a patient's individual breast cancer risk can guide decisions regarding breast cancer screening. All women benefit from healthy behaviors that may reduce breast cancer risk. Some women at increased risk for breast cancer may benefit from risk-reducing medications. Use of screening measures remains suboptimal, especially for uninsured women.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
The summary reports that mammography screening, together with advances in treatment, has contributed to a decline in mortality in the United States.
Aim of the study: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females worldwide, and its incidence is rising. In the United States, screening mammography and advances in therapy have lowered mortality by 41% since 1990.
Results: Patients at high risk for breast cancer include those with a ≥20% lifetime risk, a high-risk germline mutation, or a history of thoracic radiation treatment between the ages of 10 and 30. Such patients are recommended to undergo annual screening mammography and adjunctive annual screening breast MRI. Patients unable to undergo MRI may undergo whole-breast ultrasound or contrast-enhanced mammography. Pregnant and lactating patients at average risk for breast cancer are recommended to undergo age-appropriate screening mammography.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A review reports that screening reduces mortality, and that annual mammography starting at age 40 is associated with the greatest reduction.
Aim of the study: Breast cancer screening reduces the stage at diagnosis, treatment-related morbidity, and disease mortality. A comprehensive risk assessment is critical to determine the most appropriate screening regimen for each individual.
Results: Multiple guidelines exist for screening mammography in average-risk individuals, and they differ on the age to begin and the frequency of screening. Annual mammography starting at age 40 is associated with the greatest reduction in breast cancer mortality and the greatest number of life-years saved. A formal risk calculator is helpful for assessing a person's lifetime risk of breast cancer and eligibility for high-risk screening. Screening guidelines exist for genetic mutations that increase breast cancer risk.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Pisaczek does not judge who is right. It shows what was written and where to read it. Every sentence above has its source.