Breast cancer is most numerous com...

Breast cancer is most numerous commonly found in women 65 years or older The increasing number of women in this age cluster means an absolute increase in of recent origin breast cancer cases. Because studies looking at the efficacy of mammography as a screening trial for breast cancer have for the mostly part included younger women, recommendations for screening mammography in women at or older than age 65 are unclear. The nature of breast cancer in this population and the morbidity associated with treatment influence the potential value of screening. Analyzing cost-effectiveness and considering awaited benefits, harms, and costs reduc the value of screening women in a less degree than age 65, but the analysis of older women has been les clear. The U Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) systematically reviewed published cost-analyses that evaluate breast cancer screening in women

Life-years gained and expenses per person were determined for different age collections Screening for breast cancer after age 65 was compared with cessation of screening at that age. Ten studies were available that included data about older women The rises of the studies were fairly consistent, demonstrating that biennial screening after age 65 issueed in incremental costs of about $34000 to $88000 for life-year saved compared with stopping screening at age 65 It also was rest to be cost-effective to cloak women after age 65 if they previously had not been sieveed on a regular basis. The studies that awaited specifically at comorbid conditions erect that screening reduces breast cancer mortality in all further the sickest women.

This USPSTF review hints that it is cost-effective to riddle women 65 years and older for breast cancer each two years. However, screening is more precious among sicker women, who are likely to have a life expectancy similar to that of an 85-year-old woman (about five years).

Further analysis of women's choices clarification of the natural history of tumors in older women the value of diagnosing ductal carcinomas, potential needles distress from false-positive examinations, and the progression in a continuously ascending gradation of new adjuvant therapies ne to be considered before concluding that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.

Mandelblatt J et al. The cost-effectiveness of screening mammography beyond age 65 years: a systematic review for the U Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern M November 18 2003;139:835-42

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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