Group pushes for better breast cancer screenings

Breast cancer screening plays an important role in the drop in mortality rate, according to the Board of Health, recognizing however, the screening also has its downsides. The mortality rate of women between 50 and 75 due to breast cancer dropped with 34 percent between 1987 and 2012, according to a report from the Board of Health. Mammogram_showing_cancer
Author unknown
Wikimedia commons The significant drop is explained in part by better treatment options, but also because of the screening. The two main complaints about the screening, sometimes women undergo unnecessary treatment, and sometimes the diagnosis is unclear, causing women unnecessary concern, led minister Schippers to ask the board for advice on the matter. 775 deaths are prevented every year by the screening for breast cancer of women, 50 years and up, every other year. The board concluded that the pros outweigh the cons, but that there's definitely room for improvement. The counseling of women who received a wrong diagnosis can be improved. The program needs improvement for women who run a small risk of breast cancer. Usually another mammogram is enough and there's no need to collect tissue for research. Also the screening doesn't rule out breast cancer. Sometimes someone will still be diagnosed with breast cancer in between screenings.