Do the benefits of screening mammography outweigh the harms of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment?--yes

Med J Aust. 2012 Jan 16;196(1):16. doi: 10.5694/mja11.11466.

Abstract

Yes. Public health adviser David Roder and Cancer Council Australia CEO Ian Olver believe the reduction in breast cancer mortality in Australia reflects both treatment and screening effects.

MeSH terms

  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Diagnostic Errors / prevention & control*
  • Early Detection of Cancer / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammography / standards*
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Morbidity
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Rate
  • Unnecessary Procedures / statistics & numerical data*