A study that followed 700,000 Spanish women for 20 years shows that those who experience a benign breast disease are twice as likely to end up developing a tumor
The breast cancer risk I almost know doubles in women diagnosed with benign breast disease through screening tests, according to research presented in the European Congress on Breast Cancer, and published in the ‘International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health’.
The study of more than 700,000 Spanish women who participated in the breast screening compared those who had been diagnosed with a benign breast disease including fibroadenomas and cysts, with those others that had not been diagnosed no breast disease.
The increased risk of breast cancer reported by the study it persisted for at least two decades. The researchers say that this group of women could benefit from more frequent screening exams to ensure that those who do develop cancer are diagnosed early, when the chances of survival are best.
The research has been presented at the congress by Dr. Marta Roman from Hospital del Mar of Barcelona, and has been included in 778,306 women between the ages of 50 and 69 who underwent at least once a breast screening between 1996 and 2015 in one of the 20 centers in Spain. In Spain, all women in this age group are offered a breast screening mammography, every two years.
Tracing
the researchers followed to women until 2017 and, during that time, 17,827 women were diagnosed with benign breast disease, while 11,708 were diagnosed with breast cancer. The data showed that among women with benign breast disease, about 25 out of 1,000 They were later diagnosed with breast cancer.
Among women without benign breast disease, about 15 out of 1,000 were diagnosed with breast cancer. The highest risk was found in women with benign breast disease regardless of age and the risk persisted for at least 20 years; women followed for less than four years had 99% more likely receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer, and women with a follow-up of 12 to 20 years had 96% more likely to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer.
“This is important. It suggests that benign breast disease is a key indicator that a woman is at increased risk of breast cancer, rather than simply being something that could turn into cancer. In fact, we often find the benign disease in one breast and then cancer develops in the other breast,” says Dr. Román.
“We can use this knowledge, along with what we know about other risk factors, to help optimize the breast exam we offer to women. For example, if a woman is diagnosed with benign breast disease and has other high-risk factors, such as family history of breast cancer, could benefit from more frequent screening,” he added.
early detection
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For his part, the President of the European Breast Cancer Council, Professor David Cameron, from the University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, UK, represents the Council at EBCC13 and was not involved in the research, has noted that “screening can help diagnose breast cancer at an earlier stage when the chances of survival are greater.
“East great study shows that women in a screening program who are diagnosed with benign breast disease appear to be at increased risk of being diagnosed long term breast cancer and therefore can benefit from a improved detection. Mammograms often detect signs of breast diseases that are not cancer, such as cysts and fibroadenomas, and it’s important to remember that most women with these conditions will not develop breast cancer,” she concludes.