Breast Cancer Screening Is Beneficial in Very Elderly Women
Posted on 22 Apr, 2008

Regular mammogram screening in women over the age of 80 years reduces their chances of being diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer, say US researchers.

(Journal of Clinical Oncology, advance online, April 21, 2008)

Approximately 17% of breast cancers are diagnosed in women older than 80 years, yet only about 1/5 of women in this age group have routine mammograms.

Evidence for the use of screening mammography for patients aged 50 to 69 years is commonly accepted.

However, the exclusion of patients older than this from clinical trials "does not fit the changing demographics" of western societies where more and more octogenarians are living longer and healthier lives.

The authors hope that their results will raise awareness of the benefits of screening among the growing number of very elderly women, but nevertheless acknowledge that women need to be considered on an individual basis.