Research News on Screening and Testing
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Breast Ultrasound May Help Younger Women Avoid Biopsies
Two studies strongly suggest that breast ultrasound is very good at distinguishing between benign lumps and cancer in women younger than 40 and may help some women avoid unnecessary biopsies.
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Senate Approves Amendment Requiring Insurance Coverage for Mammograms for Women 40 to 49
Breastcancer.org applauds the Senate for specifically addressing breast cancer screening in the healthcare reform bill.
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Five or More X-Rays Before Age 20 Ups Risk for Women with Abnormal Breast Cancer Gene
Research suggests that women with an abnormal breast cancer gene (BRCA1 or BRCA2) who had five or more x-rays before they were 20 years old were 2.5 times more likely to develop breast cancer compared to women with an abnormal breast cancer gene who didn't have that many x-rays before the age of 20.
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Adding Special Analysis to Breast Ultrasound Might Help Decide if Mass Is Cancerous
A small study suggests that adding a special analysis -- called elastography -- to breast ultrasound can help doctors decide if a breast mass is cancer and needs to be biopsied.
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Keeping an Eye on Benign Breast Lumps is Safe Alternative to Immediate Biopsy
A new study suggests that if a mammogram or ultrasound shows a palpable mass is benign, keeping a close eye on it with regular medical exams and mammograms is a reasonable and safe alternative to immediately biopsying the mass.
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Measuring Progesterone Levels Can Improve MRI Accuracy
A small study suggests that measuring progesterone levels before breast MRI in premenopausal women with irregular menstrual cycles can help better time the MRI, improving the test's accuracy and reducing the likelihood of repeat tests.
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Task Force Mammography Recommendations Reignites Debate
The debate about the benefits of screening mammograms for women younger than 50 goes back at least as far as 1969.
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Medical Community Has Mixed Reactions to Task Force’s Mammography Recommendations
Reactions to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations to dramatically change current breast cancer screening guidelines have been mixed, with both sides voicing strong opinions.
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U.S. Task Force Recommends Mammograms Start at 50 Instead of 40
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended dramatic changes to current breast cancer screening guidelines; Breastcancer.org is strongly opposed to these guidelines and urges all women to talk to their doctors to develop a screening plan that is right for them and their unique situations.
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Researchers Question Value of Regular Screening Mammograms
A new study questions the value of regular screening mammograms; Breastcancer.org continues to believe the current recommendations make sense.
