title: Breast cancer screening. Benefits, risks, and current controversies.
abstract: Mammography is the best tool available for screening for breast cancer. Although the data supporting clinical breast examination are not as strong, this procedure continues to be widely used in the United States. To maximize accuracy of results, women who undergo screening during their premenopausal years should attempt to schedule mammography during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. All women should be educated about the benefits and the harms of screening, including the risk of being called back for further testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA. mary_barton@hms.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012306:Risk; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health