FORCE's eXamining the Relevance of Articles for You (XRAY) program looks behind the headlines of cancer news to help you understand what the research means for you.
XRAY is a reliable source of hereditary cancer research-related news and information.
Learn more about the XRAY program
In portal: Breast Cancer, Categories Screening
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Study : Take your time, follow your heart: strategies for communication about family planning
Most relevant for: Young high risk women
When a woman is newly diagnosed with a BRCA mutation, she faces many risk management decisions. Although many of these decisions impact family planning, little guidance is available on how to communicate this information. This study examines female previvors’ advice on effective strategies for discussing family planning decisions. (03/28/18)
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Relevance: High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : Should biannual MRIs replace annual mammograms in high-risk women?
Most relevant for: Women at increased risk for breast cancer due to an inherited mutation
The risk of breast cancer is exceptionally high in women who have a personal or family history of breast cancer or who carry a mutation in BRCA or certain other genes. More frequent screening is one strategy for early detection of breast cancer for these women. Study results presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium suggest that MRI screening every 6 months may be more effective than the currently recommended annual breast MRI and annual mammogram in detecting early stage breast cancers-which are more treatable-in high-risk women. (2/1/18)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Quality of Writing: High
Article : Dense breasts and mammograms: Jill Goodacre’s story
Most relevant for: Women with dense breast tissue on mammograms
Korin Miller’s piece for SELF magazine focuses on why women with dense breasts may need more than a screening mammogram. Miller highlights the recent story in People magazine of Jill Goodacre, a former Victoria’s Secret model and the wife of recording artist and talk show host Harry Connick Jr. Goodacre told of her breast cancer diagnosis 5 years ago after having additional screening of her dense breast tissue following a normal mammogram. (12/8/17)
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Relevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : Do physicians recommend breast cancer screenings based on guidelines?
Most relevant for: Women at average risk for breast cancer
Several guidelines help physicians decide when a woman should begin screening for breast cancer and how often she should be screened. However, are these guidelines put into use in the clinic? (8/8/17)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-Low
Study : Routine breast cancer screening leads to overdiagnosis
Most relevant for: Women at average risk for breast cancer
Routine breast cancer screening for women of average risk has been controversial for many years because some believe that the benefits do not outweigh the risks. Recent headlines covering a study in Denmark suggests that routine breast cancer screening leads to “overdiagnosis” of breast cancer. (4/4/17)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Study : Women with breast cancer symptoms but no lump may wait longer to seek medical care
Most relevant for: People with breast cancer symptoms
Some patients take longer than others before getting a potential breast cancer checked by their health care provider. Believing that women who have breast cancer symptoms but have no lump may wait longer, researchers in this study used data from women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and 2010 to identify possible explanations. (1/18/17)
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Personal Story : Why one woman passed on genetic testing
Most relevant for: People considering genetic testing and people who are Ashkenazi Jewish
What are reasons to get or not get genetic testing? Cynthia Graber gives her thoughts on the matter in her Wired opinion piece, "Why I Won't Get the Genetic Test for Breast Cancer." (11/15/16)
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Study : Breast cancer screening should be tailored to a woman’s risk factors and breast density
Most relevant for: Women who are at high risk for breast cancer due to family history, dense breasts, LCIS, or multiple biopsies
The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends a screening mammogram every other year for women ages 50-74 who are at average risk for breast cancer. But do all patients in this category benefit from this screening regimen? 10/18/16
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Relevance: Medium-Low
Quality of Writing: Medium-Low
Personal Story : Dogs: Companions, hunters, and cancer detectors?
Most relevant for:
In August 2016, many news outlets published stories about how actress Shannen Doherty’s dog was able to sniff out her cancer before she was diagnosed. Is there scientific validity to that claim? (9/616)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : Dense breast notifications are informative but hard to read and understand
Most relevant for: Women with dense breast tissue on mammograms
Some states offer women dense breast notifications that are meant to explain that dense breasts are risk factors for breast cancer and can hide cancer on mammograms, and to identify appropriate supplemental screening options. But recent research found that this information is often not easy to read or understand, which questions the usefulness of the documents. (6/7/16)
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