International study finds 1 in 3 women overtreated for breast cancer
I’ve heard of missing the mark when it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, but in a first of its kind finding, two international scientists have found that 1 in 3 women that are diagnosed with breast cancer do not actually need the treatment they are receiving.
According to the article from cbsnews.com, Karsten Jorgensen and Peter Gotzsche from the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen, found in a study that was conducted over seven years before and after government screening was conducted in parts of Australia, Britain, Canada, Norway, and Sweden, that not only did government screening for breast cancer increase the number of those diagnosed with breast cancer, but it also showed that 1 in 3 of those that were diagnosed were given treatments that they did not need. The reason for this, according to the duo, is that some forms breast cancer are more advanced than others and it is hard to distinguish one from another. But the negative side effects of unnecessary treatment can be both physical and mental.
They did also underscore that it is of utmost importance to get a breast cancer screening done on a regular basis, but wanted to put out such information to help women be able to stay informed and make the right decision when it comes time for treatment.
ThinkPinker.com continues to hold out hope that one day a breast cancer cure will be found and will continue to uncover important events related to breast cancer as they occur. If you would like to read the entire article about this new study please visit cbsnews.com.
