The Fight Rages on to Eradicate Breast Cancer

For many years breast cancer has stood out as a killer of women. The survival rates often times depend heavily on detection as well as many other factors. The decrease in breast cancer is due in large part to the heavy push for early detection through mammography and also preventive procedures. As the push to eradicate breast cancer continues so too does the push to improve existing diagnostic techniques.

According to an article published on medicalnewstoday.com “Digital tomosynthesis is an effective tool for reducing the recall rate in breast cancer screening.” Diagnostic imaging is continuing its move forward in order to aid in the fight against breast cancer. With mammograms improving in terms of quality it’s great to see that there is something other than the known screen tool. According to the article it was stated that “Digital mammography is the gold standard for breast cancer screening, but may yield suspicious findings that turn out not to be cancer.” It’s fair to say that with the big drive against cancer, it’s vital to be certain.

Perhaps with the many new technologies and hybrid modalities coming out, there may be a chance that new developments will only help in the battle. While a CT scan, MRI, or common X-Ray will not soon be the golden standard, the improvements will likely help make those as a strong backup. Considering some of the statistics of breast cancer, it’s a breath of fresh air to see these developments come full circle. The statistics on breast cancer are not, by any extent, relaxing. Some of the following facts are a great example:

• About 1 in 8 U.S. women (just under 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
•  In 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 57,650 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
• About 39,520 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2011 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1990 — especially in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness
• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
•  In 2011, there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
• About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.

Breast cancer is a serious and very difficult problem that has been plaguing women in the US and through the world for years. The more that can be done, not only in medical technologies, but in healthcare in general, the more progress that will be made against it.

It’s interesting to see how this particular development will aide in creating new pushes for R&D. With healthcare drivers in emerging markets like the Philippines creating new opportunities for improvement, it will be great to see these types of developments filter out to make things better all around.

If you have any questions about diagnostic imaging procedures please feel free to give us a call. We look forward to answering any questions you may have.