A new study suggests that mammograms used to detect breast cancer may actually increase the chance of developing the disease in younger women who have certain genetic risk factors.
This is very interesting in light of the lasting debate over whether or not the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to getting mammograms earlier than the experts suggest. We know that sometimes unnecessary tests are done in response to questionable findings on a mammogram, but for some women these early tests turn out to be a life saver.
This study may add another layer of concern when it comes to high-risk patients, so it’s something that doctors definitely need to discuss with their female patients.