To screen for breast cancer, mammography is essential. In France, it is recommended to do one every two years from the age of 50. But according to a study by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, overweight women should take this test more frequently.
The results of this study were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RNSA) and published in the scientific journal Science Daily. The study was carried out on a sample of 2,012 women with breast cancer between 2001 and 2008 in Sweden.
A diagnosis made later
The researchers found that for women with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25, the diagnosis was not made until the tumor measured more than 2 centimeters, the size of a peanut.
However, when the tumor reaches 2 centimeters in diameter, breast cancer is already in its second stage of development. This increases the risk for the patient because the earlier the cancer is detected, the higher the chances of recovery.
“Our study shows that when a healthcare professional has the advantages of screening for breast cancer, having a high BMI is part of the reason for doing so,” explains Dr Fredrik Strand radiologist at Karolinska University Hospital and co. -author of the study. “Women with a high BMI should also reduce the interval between two screenings,” he concludes.
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