Breast Cancer Screening: Is It Worthwhile?

There is more evidence of the effectiveness of breast cancer screening with mammography than for any other cancer screening strategy. Yet breast cancer screening remains controversial. Important practical issues, such as when to start screening, when to stop screening, and how often to screen, remain controversial, and there are valid concerns about the cost-effectiveness of screening when compared to other health care choices. This article presents the foundations for the breast cancer screening recommendation and an overview of the debated issues surrounding this screening strategy.