okay some positive news for us older gals.

[Jean]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/258015.php

In conclusion, women aged 50 to 74 years, regardless of breast density or HT use, can undergo biennial rather than annual mammography because biennial screening does not increase the risk of presenting with advanced disease but does substantially reduce the cumulative risk of a false-positive mammography result and biopsy recommendation.

[sarah]

Interesting. I keep asking about skipping a year for mammos but so far the docs say no despite the fact that aster the second recurrence they could never see the progression on any tests only through biopsy and I've had nasty side effects from radiation. I would love to only do mammos every 2 years.

[v-ness]

currently i get a mammo in the fall and an MRI in the spring (coming up in a week or two). it makes me feel secure between that and the biennial onco visits where i get manual exams as well. i guess that is why i have little scanxiety.

[tricia keegan]

I hate having them but still prefer it yearly for peace of mind.

[Lani]

Jean
I think these recommendations are for those who HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY HAD breast cancer.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but those with BRCA mutations, those with a past history of radiation exposure in childhood, and those who have already had breast cancer are usually not included in these recommendations.

[Jean]

Hi Lani,
I believe it was a combination of both...


Researchers analyzed data collected from January 1994 to December 2008 from mammography facilities in community practice that participate in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) mammography registries. Data were collected from 11,474 women with breast cancer and 922,624 without breast cancer.

Jean