Study Shows Mammograms Reduce Breast Cancer Deaths by 30 Percent
PA Breast Cancer Coalition Applauds Findings; Strengthens Support for Annual Screening
EPHRATA, Pa. – The PA Breast Cancer Coalition welcomes the results from the longest-running study on breast cancer screening ever conducted, which supports the reality that regular mammograms save lives.
“The PA Breast Cancer Coalition has been a longtime advocate for annual mammograms for women over 40 years old,” said Pat Halpin-Murphy, President & Founder of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. “I am pleased that the research lends additional support to what we have been saying for years – early detection saves lives.”
The study, published in the journal Radiology, began 29 years ago. Researchers followed 130,000 women in two Swedish communities, splitting them into two groups with one group receiving more frequent breast cancer screening and the other receiving usual care. During the screening phase of the trial, which lasted seven years, 30 percent fewer women in the more frequently screened group died of breast cancer than those who received only usual care.
In 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against routine mammograms for women in their 40s and recommended that those in their 50s should be screened every two years instead of annually. The PA Breast Cancer Coalition strongly disagreed with the task force recommendations and has continued to support annual screening for women 40 years of age and older.
Kevin Smith
Communications Director
717-721-2580 x109
Kevin@PABreastCancer.org
The PA Breast Cancer Coalition represents supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to. For more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.
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