Breast cancer screening

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in the United State s; however, recent data demonstrates a decline in the mortality rate, which may be attributed to early detection from screening programs combined with effective therapies for early stage disease. As a result of the prevalence of breast cancer and its association with highly emotional issues, screeni ng recommendations have aroused debate in the scientific, public, and legis lative domains. A general consensus supports breast cancer screening among women between the ages of 50 and 70; however, much controversy exists regar ding screening for women age 40 to 49 or above age 70. This article explore s the issues involved in determining breast cancer screening recommendation s among asymptomatic women with average risk in the United States.