RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Breast Cancer Screening in Older Women: The Importance of Shared Decision Making
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 473
OP 480
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2020.03.190380
VO 33
IS 3
A1 Sarina Schrager
A1 Viktoriya Ovsepyan
A1 Elizabeth Burnside
YR 2020
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/33/3/473.abstract
AB Incidence of breast cancer increases with age up until age 80. Screening mammography has demonstrated efficacy in decreasing mortality from breast cancer among women between 50 and 74 years of age. However, most major organizations do not include women over 74 in their recommendations due to the lack of evidence in this age-group. This article will review current recommendations for breast cancer screening in women over the age of 74. It will also present clear guidelines for primary care clinicians to follow that incorporate shared decision-making techniques, tools for estimating the risks and benefits of screening mammography, and strategies for integrating a patient's life expectancy and comorbidities into the decision-making process. We also emphasize the importance of using thoughtful communication strategies to fully engage older women in the breast cancer screening discussion.