| Cancer is
the second leading cause of death in the
United States, exceeded only by heart
disease. Breast cancer is one of the most
common types of cancer among American
women. There were an estimated 217,440
new cases of breast cancer and 40,580
deaths from breast cancer in 2004.1
Although there continues to be debate
and controversy concerning optimal guidelines
for mammography screening, the National
Cancer Institute, the American Cancer
Society, and most medical specialty organizations
concur that early detection by regular
mammograms is associated with a reduced
risk of breast cancer mortality for women
aged 40 and over. (Journal of Women's
Health, Jan 2003) & (2). Women whose
breast cancer is identified early are
more likely to require less intensive
therapy. As with many cancers, breast
cancer detected in its earliest, pre-invasive
stage costs significantly less than cancer
detected in later stages. In the U.S.,
breast cancer treatment costs exceed $7
billion per year.3
For more info on Cancer screening see:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/screening
&
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening
For information on this measure, see:
http://healthdisparities.net/hdc/Library/7-19-2005.7366/CancerMeasures_Mar05.pdf
Health Disparities Collaborative recommends
screening mammography >_ 42 years every
2years.
For information on treatment, see:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment
&
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/adulttreatment
HEDIS Annual Report on Health Care Quality:
2005
http://www.ncqa.org/docs/SOHCQ_2005.pdf
(page 30)
Medscape: Factors Affecting Follow-Up
Among Low-Income Women with Breast Abnormalities
Posted 04/20/2004
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/473007
Breast Cancer Screening: See US Preventive
Services Task Force: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/3rduspstf/breastcancer/brcanrr.pdf
USPSTF recommends screening mammography,
with or without clinical breast examination
(CBE), every 1-2 years for women >_
40 years
Other guidelines and regulations:
Mammography Quality Standard Act (federal
regulation):
Requires all women are to be notified
of their mammogram results. . Radiology
facilities are responsible for this notification.
Screening has been proven to prevent
and/or ameliorate the course of a number
of serious medical conditions. Early and
regular screening for cancer is one of
our most effective tools. Much suffering,
disability as well as deaths can be avoided
if more people were screened for cancer.
This measure examines the continuity of
care and adherence to protocol at health
centers for cancer screening and follow
up. This includes provider education,
patient outreach and health education,
referral, appointment system, and other
factors necessary to coordinate this process.
1. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts
& Figures 2004. 2004.
2. National Cancer Institute, National
Institutes of Health. Cancer Facts: Screening
Mammograms. Last reviewed: May
3, 2002. http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/5_28.htm.
3. CDC fact sheet, 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/factsheets/prevention/cancer.htm.
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