The US issues updated breast cancer screening guidance

Great news for women in the US as their preventative service task force recommends lowering the age of breast screening commencement to 40.

It is another step forward for all those who have been working hard to deliver screening to a wider pool of women and ensure they have the right test for their breast tissue type. Reducing the recommended screening age and implementing mandatory breast density information pushes the US guidelines beyond those in Europe, albeit not as far as we hoped in mandating supplemental testing for women with dense breast tissue.

Dense fibroglandular tissue has a significant impact on the ability of a standard mammogram to detect cancer in “dense” breasts (as low as 4 in 10 in some cases). This is a problem that affects around 50% of the existing screening population. Density decreases with age so lowering the screening age will only increase the number of women impacted by density.

Suppliers of Mammography equipment have been working for decades to improve these detection rates and there is much clinical evidence that indicates a significant improvement in detection rates by applying different Mammography techniques (like Tomosynthesis (3D) or the use of a pre-Mammogram injection of Iodin as a contrast agent), especially for women with dense breasts. The issue is knowing density before this first scan, to understand the most appropriate diagnostic technique. Currently, the only option is to lead with a standard Mammogram which may not be as effective in dense breasts, and then follow with a second test for those with dense breasts.

At Micrima Limited we have solved this problem by developing a device that measures breast density in less than one minute. The handheld and portable scanner uses radio wave technology, to measure breast density ahead of any imaging. It’s quick, safe, pain-free, and can be operated by anyone after just 30 minutes of training. Its use can transform pathways by enabling the selection of the best imaging technique for cancer detection in each patient’s breast tissue type.

Over 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. That’s 500M women alive today who will experience breast cancer at some point post-puberty.

So let’s all keep working together to develop new technology and spread awareness amongst women to change these statistics.