![The Negative Mammogram Myth
Mammography is an imperfect test. A “normal mammogram” report does not mean that a woman does not have breast cancer. Overall, mammograms will pick up 80 to 90 percent of cancers. That’s pretty good, but there are still 10 to 20 percent of cancers that will not be seen, and will present as an “interval cancer” with a palpable lump, as in the example above.
The cancer detection rate plummets in women with dense breasts to only 40 to 50 percent of cancers picked up on a mammogram. That’s about the odds of a coin toss. This is ineffective screening by anyone’s standards. Read more.
[Image: Stacey Vitiello]](http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/theatlantic/16580832020/1/tumblr_lygsfdDrH91qcokc4)
Mammography is an imperfect test. A “normal mammogram” report does not mean that a woman does not have breast cancer. Overall, mammograms will pick up 80 to 90 percent of cancers. That’s pretty good, but there are still 10 to 20 percent of cancers that will not be seen, and will present as an “interval cancer” with a palpable lump, as in the example above.
The cancer detection rate plummets in women with dense breasts to only 40 to 50 percent of cancers picked up on a mammogram. That’s about the odds of a coin toss. This is ineffective screening by anyone’s standards. Read more.
[Image: Stacey Vitiello]
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strawbrryf reblogged this from theatlantic and added:
I rarely share this story but I will because it’s important. When I was 19, I found a lump in my breast. I freaked out....
