New Delhi, Dec 27 || An individualised approach to breast cancer screening that assesses patients' risk, rather than annual mammograms, can lower the chance of more advanced cancers, while still safely matching people to the amount of screening they need, according to a study.
The findings, by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), based on a study of 46,000 US women, support shifting the approach to screening from one that is based on age alone to one that starts with comprehensive risk assessment to determine each woman's optimal screening schedule.
"The findings should transform clinical guidelines for breast cancer screening and alter clinical practice," said Laura J. Esserman, director of the UCSF Breast Care Center.
"The personalised approach begins with risk assessment, incorporating genetic, biological, and lifestyle factors, which can then guide effective prevention strategies," Esserman added.