The Article in Brief

Discovery of Breast Cancers Within 1 Year of a Normal Screening Mammogram: How Are They Found?

By Patricia A. Carney, PhD, and colleagues

Background There has been little research into how breast cancer is discovered when it is not picked up on a mammogram or when it appears between mammograms. This study looks at how breast cancer is discovered within 1 year of a normal mammogram.

What This Study Found Of the 143 women in this study, approximately one half decided to visit to the doctor when they had 1 or more breast concerns, especially when they found a lump and had a personal or family history of breast cancer. Seventeen percent of the breast cancers were found by women's primary care doctors, and the rest were picked up on a follow-up mammogram. Most women in the study were cared for by the doctor who referred them for the mammogram that identified the cancer.

Implications

• No screening test, including mammograms, picks up all cancers.
• Women at highest risk for breast cancer should be monitored by their primary care doctor and strongly encouraged to visit the doctor at the first sign of a lump.
• Women, especially those with a personal or family history of breast cancer, should report breast symptoms to the doctor, even if they have had a recent negative mammogram.
• An ongoing relationship with a primary care doctor is important in helping to detect breast cancer between mammograms.