Plain Language Summary Overdiagnosed breast cancer is breast cancer detected by screening that would not have caused any health problems had it been left undetected and untreated. Without screening, it would not ever have been detected. Overdiagnosed breast cancers are…
Plain Language Summary Microsimulation is a process where complex processes are modeled on computers programmed to combine information about separate components of the process into an overall picture. For breast cancer screening this means combining information about the epidemiology of…
Plain Language Summary The benefits and harms of breast cancer screening have been debated for many years. One reason this debate continues is continuing uncertainty about the magnitude of these benefits and harms. In the past, decision makers have relied…
Plain Language Summary Breast cancer affects millions of women worldwide. Screening mammography has the potential to detect breast cancer early, leading to more effective treatment, reduced chance of metastasis, and better survival and quality of life for the patient. Large…
Plain Language Summary The benefits of mammography screening have been studied in nine randomized controlled trials comparing women screened with those not screened. Randomized controlled trials are regarded as the strongest type of study to determine whether screening is effective…
Plain Language Summary Culture, politics, money, and media intersect to influence the interpretation of scientific evidence, directly affecting the lives of women. Before venturing into detailed chapters reviewing the scientific evidence on breast cancer screening, we begin this textbook with…