Study: Family History Justifies Earlier Start of Breast Cancer Screening

A woman's family history should be a factor in the age at which she begins taking part in breast cancer screening programs, according to researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research in London.

Researchers conducted a study, published in the European Journal of Cancer, to determine which women with a significant family history of breast cancer should be screened for the disease and to assess whether clinical evaluation is necessary in addition to mammography.

The participants were divided into two groups based on their predicted risk. The first group consisted of 1,500 women of standard risk and the second group consisted of 1,078 women at a moderate/high risk. The screening consisted of annual clinical evaluation and mammography from the age of 35 years.

Overall, 31 cancers were found; 12 in the standard risk group and 19 in the moderate/high risk group.

The women in the moderate/high risk group with cancer were significantly younger (average age 45 years) at diagnosis than the women in the standard risk group (average age 54.5 years).

Researchers concluded, "The younger age of diagnosis in the moderate/high risk group justifies screening from an earlier age than that offered by the National Health Services Breast Screening Program, by clinical examination in addition to mammography."

Other Sources: European Journal of Cancer