Mammography has helped reduce the incidence of breast cancer at an advanced stage 37%

Mammography has helped reduce the incidence of breast cancer at an advanced stage 37% -

Over the last 30 years, since mammography was introduced, breast cancer incidence end of the line decreased by 37 percent, a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive cancer Center found.

analysis reflects a trend underlying the increased incidence of breast cancer has since the 1940s, a kind of inflation rate for breast cancer.

researchers examined at an early stage and late stage breast cancer diagnoses between 1977-1979, before mammography became popular, and compared with diagnoses between 07-09. Based on the trends observed during the pre-mammography period from the 1940s to 1970s and the continuing trends over time, the researchers took into account an estimated center increased incidence of breast cancer 1 3 percent per year. This is called an annual percent change or APC

Think of the APC as the inflation rate. $ 1 1977 does not go as far in 07. As the cost of money increases, the number of breast cancer diagnoses increases, regardless of the efforts to detect it earlier.

in this document, published in Cancer, the researchers studied data the late 1970s and projected impact of early and breast cancer at an advanced stage in 07 -09 on the basis of APC. They then compared the projected rates to actual rates.

the incidence of breast cancer late phase decreased by 37 percent compared to the expected rate, and the incidence of early stage breast cancer has increased accordingly by 48 percent in 1977-1979 07-09. They also performed similar analyzes with other APC values ​​ranging from 0.5 percent to 2 percent. All estimates have shown a significant reduction of the disease at an advanced stage.

"When we take into account this time trend, our analysis shows that there has been a change in the advanced stage of breast cancer at an early stage on the last 30 years. This is what you expect an effective screening program. we not only detect cancer more at an early stage, but we are reducing the number of cases in advanced stages that tend to be more difficult to treat and more deadly, "said lead author of the study Mark Helvie, MD, professor of radiology and director of breast imaging at the UM Comprehensive cancer Center.

There are many reasons why the incidence of breast cancer increases over time, including breeding, feeding and environmental factors. previous estimates showed an annual increase of 1 percent to 3 percent in the US and Europe before the start of screening mammography. in countries Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe without routine screening mammogram, breast cancer rates increase as much as 3 percent to 5 percent annually.

Importantly, the study also found that since mammography was introduced, there was an overall decrease of 9 percent in invasive breast cancer, when considering a annual percentage increase of 1.3 percent. This was offset by an increase in ductal carcinoma in situ, called stage 0 breast cancer, which are not invasive.

"While we have seen an increase in the overall incidence of breast cancer over the last 30 years, the decline advanced diagnostics is a positive benefit of mammography and our increased awareness early detection. the reduction of the disease in an advanced stage, and improved treatment, contributes to the decrease in mortality in the United States of cancer in the last 20 years, "said Helvie.