Mammography News and Research

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A mammogram is a safe test used to look for any problems with a woman's breasts. The test uses a special, low-dose x-ray machine to take pictures of both breasts. The results are recorded on x-ray film or directly onto a computer for a radiologist to examine.

Mammograms allow the doctor to have a closer look for breast lumps and changes in breast tissue. They can show small lumps or growths that a doctor or woman may not be able to feel when doing a clinical breast exam. "Mammography" is the best screening tool that doctors have for finding breast cancer.

If a lump is found, your doctor may order other tests, such as ultrasound or a biopsy--a test where a small amount of tissue is taken from the lump and area around the lump. The tissue is sent to a lab to look for cancer or changes that may mean cancer is likely to develop. Breast lumps or growths can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Finding breast cancer early means that a woman has a better chance of surviving the disease. There are also more choices for treatment when breast cancer is found early.

Walkable neighborhoods reduce risk of obesity-related cancers in women

Residing in a more walkable neighborhood protects against the risk of overall obesity-related cancers in women, specifically postmenopausal breast cancer, but also ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and multiple myeloma, according to a new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

4 Oct 2023

Structural racism linked to higher cancer mortality rates among minority populations

Structural racism was associated with increased county-level cancer mortality rates among minority populations compared with whites, according to results presented at the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held September 29-October 2, 2023.

29 Sep 2023

New AI model improves accuracy of tumor removal in breast cancer surgery

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools have received a lot of attention recently, with the majority of discussions focusing on proper use.

25 Sep 2023

Making breast cancer screening inclusive for disabled individuals

Lene Andersen, MSW, has been living with rheumatoid arthritis and disability since childhood. Her personal experience with limited mobility and the challenges faced in accessing mammography screening in Toronto, Ontario, has fueled her determination to advocate for change.

13 Sep 2023

Training program for health workers aims to reduce the burden of breast cancer in Malawi

Women in rural Malawi are learning how to detect breast cancer thanks to the country's first dedicated training programme for health workers, aimed at reducing the burden of the disease.

12 Sep 2023

COVID-19 pandemic led to reductions in breast cancer screening participation globally

A review of COVID-19 studies globally has revealed reductions in breast cancer screening participation during 2020, with differences between geographic regions and healthcare settings.

12 Sep 2023

Radiologist supported by AI can detect more cases of breast cancer, study shows

One radiologist supported by AI detected more cases of breast cancer in screening mammography than two radiologists working together, reports the ScreenTrustCAD study from Karolinska Institutet in The Lancet Digital Health.

8 Sep 2023

Is there an association between the COVID-19 pandemic and cancer incidence?

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced cancer incidence.

8 Sep 2023

COVID-19 pandemic disrupted cancer diagnoses, raising alarms for future healthcare resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a notable decline in new cancer diagnoses in Manitoba, Canada, particularly affecting breast, colon, and rectal cancers. The study highlights the urgent need for healthcare strategies to mitigate the impact of future disruptions on cancer detection and treatment.

6 Sep 2023

AI for breast cancer screening can perform just as well as human readers

Using a standardized assessment, researchers in the UK compared the performance of a commercially available artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm with human readers of screening mammograms.

5 Sep 2023

Combined AI model may improve the accuracy of breast cancer risk assessment

Combining artificial intelligence (AI) systems for short- and long-term breast cancer risk results in an improved cancer risk assessment, according to a study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

29 Aug 2023

Machine learning model finds new breast cancer risk indicator in women with dense breasts

A machine learning model found that background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) on breast MRI is an indicator of breast cancer risk in women with extremely dense breasts, according to a study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

8 Aug 2023

AI-supported mammography screening could save lives and reduce workload for radiologists

Mammography screening supported by artificial intelligence (AI) is a safe alternative to today's conventional double reading by radiologists and can reduce heavy workloads for doctors.

1 Aug 2023

FDA head Robert Califf battles misinformation — sometimes with fuzzy facts

Robert Califf, the head of the Food and Drug Administration, doesn't seem to be having fun on the job.

24 Jul 2023

Researchers develop new method for early breast cancer detection

A research team from PSI and ETH Zurich, together with the Baden Cantonal Hospital and University Hospital Zurich, wants to improve a method used for diagnosing breast cancer.

19 Jul 2023

Is there an association between diabetes and breast cancer risk?

The relationship between diabetes and the risk of breast cancer.

6 Jul 2023

Historically redlined areas are less likely to be screened for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer

Although redlining was outlawed more than 50 years ago, new research shows that people today who live in historically redlined areas are less likely to be screened for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer than people who live in areas not associated with redlining practices.

16 Jun 2023

Study evaluates which women should receive more than mammograms for breast cancer screening

Study's findings point to the importance of considering other risk factors beyond breast density. Dense breast tissue, which contains a higher proportion of fibrous tissue than fat, is a risk factor for breast cancer and also makes it more difficult to identify cancer on a mammogram.

12 Jun 2023

AI algorithms outperform the standard clinical risk model for predicting breast cancer risk

In a large study of thousands of mammograms, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms outperformed the standard clinical risk model for predicting the five-year risk for breast cancer. The results of the study were published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

6 Jun 2023

Mammograms at 40? Breast cancer screening guidelines spark fresh debate

While physicians mostly applauded a government-appointed panel's recommendation that women get routine mammography screening for breast cancer starting at age 40, down from 50, not everyone approves.

30 May 2023