Clinical Edge

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Early screening may halve breast cancer mortality in childhood cancer survivors

Key clinical point: Initiating breast cancer screening at 25-30 years of age may sharply reduce disease mortality among women who have received chest radiotherapy for childhood cancer.

Major finding: When compared with no screening, starting annual mammography with MRI at age 30 averted 55%-69% of breast cancer deaths, and starting MRI alone at age 30 averted 54%-60% of breast cancer deaths.

Study details: A modeling study using data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and other published sources, for women aged 20 years treated for childhood cancer during 1970-1986.

Disclosures: The research was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, and American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities. Authors disclosed relationships with GE Healthcare and Biovector.

Citation:

Yeh JM et al. Ann Intern Med. 2020 Jul 7. doi: 10.7326/M19-3481.