Brit docs question the value of mammograms, but US experts stand behind the scans.

STATE COLLEGE, PA—According to an analysis published recently in the British Medical Journal, general information on mammograms is one-sided and doesn’t adequately discuss the harms of breast cancer screening. That analysis doesn’t pass muster with the American Cancer Society, though, who advise women not to give up on mammography.

THE DETAILS: In 2006, the authors surveyed invitations for breast cancer screenings sent to women in six countries, and concluded that the literature didn’t relay all the harms of mammography. None of the 31 mammogram invitations (sent out in the UK) mentioned the potential overdiagnosis and subsequent overtreatment of healthy women. The researchers believe an alternative leaflet should be distributed so women can weight the benefits and risk of the test. According to their article, if 2,000 women were screened regularly for 10 years, one will benefit and will avoid dying from breast cancer. On the other hand, 10 healthy women will be diagnosed with the disease, have part or all of their breasts removed, and could go through radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Another 200 women will receive false alarms and experience psychological strain until they’re told they actually don’t have breast cancer.

But according to some, those numbers don’t add up.

“They wildly overestimate the rate of harms as well as the consequences of the harms, and significantly underestimate the benefits,” says Robert Smith, PhD, director of cancer screening at the American Cancer Society. “The authors cite overdiagnosis rates of 30% to 50%,” Smith adds. “They are citing their own work, which has been roundly criticized as methodically flawed.”

WHAT IT MEANS: Mammograms may not be perfect, but women shouldn’t consider the new study to be a “Get Out of a Mammogram Free” card, says Susan Brown, director of education for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. “There’s still a lot we don’t know about breast cancer, especially early breast cancer, but there is a large body of info that shows the benefits of regular screening with mammography.” Brown believes more studies are necessary before we’ll be able to tell who will benefit from mammography and who would not. “We know breast cancer is not one disease, but a number of diseases,” Brown explains.

Here’s how you can make the most of your mammogram:

• Go digital. Digital mammograms pick up more cancers, especially in women younger than 50. And remember, some women, especially younger ones, have denser breasts so it’s a little tougher to get a good view. Don’t panic if you’re called back for additional tests, radiologists may want to see something magnified or check something out at a different angle. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer.

• Find an expert reader. Look for a breast-screening facility whose radiologist spends at least half of his or her time reading mammograms. When you’re scheduling an appointment, be sure to ask this question. An expert could avoid sounding a false alarm.

• Be a regular. Once you find a screening facility you’re comfortable with, keep getting your regular screenings there. That way, radiologists can compare your current mammogram with your previous ones, which could reduce the chance of false positives, Smith says.

• Know when to go. The American Cancer Society recommends women 40 and over go for a mammogram every year. For a complete list of other screening methods and to know if you’re at a higher risk and might require more screening, visit American Cancer Society’s breast cancer screening guidelines.