| The answer is still uncertain. A team of | | | | developing breast cancer, assuming that she lives |
| researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research | | | | to the age of 85, are about 13 percent if she has |
| in London tracked 160,900 women for an | | | | no BRCA2 mutation, 60 to 80 percent if a |
| average of 11 years. The participants were | | | | woman has a BRCA1 mutation, and 30 to 85 |
| divided into two groups: Women in the study | | | | percent if she has a BRCA2 mutation. |
| group were offered annual mammography | | | | It is known that radiation exposure can increase |
| screenings beginning at age 40, while those in the | | | | the risk of cancer. However, it should be noted |
| control group were offered annual screenings | | | | that X-rays typically use low levels of radiation |
| beginning at age 50. | | | | that are generally considered to be safe. It is also |
| Deaths resulting from breast cancer among the | | | | known that the younger the age at first |
| younger women decreased by only 17 percent, a | | | | exposure to radiation the greater the risk of |
| figure considered by researchers to be not | | | | breast cancer. |
| statistically significant. However, the study also | | | | The timing of exposure can be as important as |
| found that in this group of women 23 percent had | | | | the dose. When exposure occurs during the time |
| at least one false-positive result, compared with | | | | of greater cell growth of the breast, vulnerability |
| 12 percent of older women. (A false-positive | | | | to the cancer-causing effects of radiation is |
| result is an irregularity in the screening process | | | | increased. Even in older women who are still |
| that later turns out not to be breast cancer.) | | | | having a menstrual cycle, the timing of exposure |
| Regular screening also increases the risk of | | | | is very important. The cumulative dose as in |
| radiation-induced breast cancer, a risk that many | | | | annual mammography screenings starting below |
| endocrinologists believe outweighs the benefit in a | | | | the age of 40 in a woman with the breast cancer |
| small percentage of women. | | | | gene mutations BRCA1 or BRCA2 significantly |
| The researchers concluded that annual | | | | increases the risk. |
| mammography screenings remain too uncertain to | | | | Breast cancer takes years to develop from the |
| conclude that a net benefit accrues to women in | | | | first genetic event or exposure to the point when |
| the below 50 age-group. | | | | a lump is seen on a mammogram or felt during a |
| Another study conducted by researchers at | | | | breast exam. It is possible that the initial genetic |
| France's National Institute of Health and Medical | | | | damage may have occurred very early in life. It is |
| Research (Institut National de la Sante et de la | | | | difficult to pinpoint when the initiating event |
| Recherche Medicale, or INSERM), found that chest | | | | occurred. |
| X-rays may actually raise the risk of breast | | | | Although the medical establishment takes to avoid |
| cancer in women with the breast cancer gene | | | | exposing a woman who might be pregnant to |
| mutations BRCA1 or BRCA2. | | | | X-rays, a woman should also avoid having a |
| Researchers studied 1,601 European and Canadian | | | | mammography screening towards the end of a |
| women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene | | | | menstrual cycle because that's the time when the |
| mutations, which greatly increase the risk of | | | | breast cells are reproducing most rapidly. |
| breast and ovarian cancers. The group included | | | | Since young women and women who are |
| 853 women with breast cancer. | | | | genetically at high risk for breast cancer are more |
| The results show that the women who reported | | | | affected by X-ray radiation, exposure to radiation |
| having chest X-rays were 54% more likely to | | | | should be limited and alternatives should be used in |
| have breast cancer, compared with those who | | | | emergencies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), |
| reported having no chest X-rays. That outcome | | | | which uses imaging technology different from |
| was more prevalent among women up to 40 | | | | X-rays, could be a good alternative to X-rays and |
| years old and those who reported having had | | | | mammography. |
| chest X-rays before age 20. | | | | It is the responsibility of each woman to decide |
| According to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer | | | | for herself (after research) whether she should |
| Foundation's web site, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 | | | | risk developing breast cancer as a result of |
| gene mutations are carried by an estimated | | | | routine mammography screenings or risk having |
| 250,000 women in the U.S. These inherited gene | | | | the complications of late-diagnosed breast cancer |
| mutations account for 5 to 10 percent of breast | | | | that could have been avoided if detected earlier |
| cancers diagnosed in the U.S. A woman's odds of | | | | by screening mammography. |