The Benefits of Screening Mammography

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Early detection through screening mammography has been proven to reduce mortality, morbidity, and years of life lost. The purpose of this review is to discuss the benefits of screening mammography and the latest recommendations from the American College of Radiology (ACR). Approximately 300,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the USA yearly. Screening mammography has allowed for early cancer detection with increasing efficacy leading to 500 prevented deaths for every 100,000 women screened and a 5-year survival rate of 91%. Mammography screening promotes the earlier detection of breast cancer, hence minimizing mortality, years of life lost, and treatment morbidity associated with advanced breast cancer at the time of diagnosis.