Health
Annual breast cancer screenings linked to lower risk of death, study finds
Making breast cancer screenings an annual event could save women’s lives, new research suggests.
In a study led by Epic Research, a health analytics firm based in Verona, Wisconsin, women who were screened for breast cancer on a yearly basis were shown to have a 17% lower risk of death by any cause compared to those who received screenings every two years, according to a Jan. 4 press release.
“Vulnerable populations have a greater risk of mortality following a breast cancer diagnosis than less vulnerable populations,” Kersten Bartelt, a Wisconsin-based registered nurse and member of Epic’s clinician team, told Fox News Digital.
“Annual breast cancer screenings may help to lower this risk.”
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This finding could call into question the updated screening guidelines released by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in May 2023.
It recommended that women between the ages of 40 and 74 get screened every other year.
Women who were screened for breast cancer on a yearly basis were shown to have a 17% lower risk of death compared to those who received screenings every two years, according to a new study. (iStock)
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that women between the ages of 45 and 54 should get mammograms every year, while women between 40 and 44 also have the option to do so.
For women 55 and older, ACS guidance is to get a mammogram every other year, unless they choose to continue with annual screenings.
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In the Epic study, researchers evaluated 25,512 women between 50 and 74 years of age.
All participants had been diagnosed with breast cancer between Jan. 1, 2018, and August 1, 2022, and were not considered at high risk prior to getting the disease.
Compared to those who were screened every two years, the annually screened group had a 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality after their diagnosis.
The study also said that women who are Black, over age 60, live in a “socially vulnerable area” or live in a rural area are more vulnerable to all-cause mortality after being diagnosed with cancer compared to women who are not in those groups.
Nicole B. Saphier, M.D., associate professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in the Epic study but shared her reactions. (Fox News)
Nicole B. Saphier, M.D., associate professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Monmouth, New Jersey, as well as a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in the Epic study but shared her reactions.
“This is a really interesting analysis and certainly supports annual mammograms,” she told Fox News Digital.
The American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging recommends annual mammography beginning at age 40 for “normal-risk women,” which Saphier also endorses.
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“Annual mammograms starting at the age of 40 increase our ability to capture more aggressive breast cancer that forms prior to menopause, and therefore give the patient the best chance at survival because early detection and treatment saves lives,” she said.
Saphier did point out one limitation of the study. She said it does not account for the association of different lifestyle choices between women who get mammograms every year and those who do so every other year.
The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging recommends annual mammography beginning at age 40 for “normal-risk women.” (iStock)
“Women who get mammograms every year may be more active and aware regarding their personal health screenings and preventative care, therefore contributing to better outcomes after breast cancer diagnosis,” noted Saphier.
The Epic researchers also acknowledged the study’s limitations.
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“We were not able to adjust for all factors that may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, breast cancer complications or mortality, such as lifestyle factors,” said Bartlet.
FILE: A doctor exams mammograms, a special type of X-ray of the breasts, which is used to detect tumors as part of a regular cancer prevention medical check-up at a clinic in France. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard)
“Additionally, the factors that resulted in a patient choosing to screen annually instead of biennially were not included in this study.”
To determine the appropriate frequency of screening, Bartelt said women should consult with their health care provider to weigh the harms and benefits as well as their personal risk factors.
Other than skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common type of women’s cancer in the U.S., accounting for about 30% of all new female cases each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
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Yoga is known to boost relaxation, strength and flexibility – and now a new study has found the practice could improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances after cancer treatment.
The findings were presented last week at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.
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The study was conducted across multiple U.S. community cancer care sites, including 410 adult cancer survivors averaging 54 years of age. Around 75% were breast cancer survivors, and none of them had practiced yoga regularly within the prior three months.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances in cancer survivors. (iStock)
The participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Half of them received only standard survivorship care without the yoga, while the other half received standard care and were also enrolled in the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training.
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Based on questionnaires completed by the patients, the survivors in the yoga group experienced “moderate-to-large” reductions in overall mood disturbance, “small-to-medium” reductions in anxiety and “medium-to-large” reductions in fatigue, the study found.
The improvements in mood and fatigue appeared to be linked to yoga’s beneficial effect on sleep quality, according to the researchers.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training. (iStock)
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug,” lead investigator Yuri Choi, PhD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, in Rochester, New York, told Fox News Digital.
The study did not reveal any major safety concerns or serious adverse events related to the yoga practice.
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug.”
The study did have some limitations, chiefly that the findings are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed for a medical publication.
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“The sample in our clinical trial was relatively homogeneous, with most participants being women (96%), breast cancer patients (75%), Caucasian (93%), and having some college or higher education (82%),” noted Choi.
“We are adapting our intervention to reach all cancer patients and survivors, including the creation of a mobile app to reach people in rural communities.”
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The research also excluded patients with metastatic cancer (whose disease had spread to other parts of the body).
The total study was only four weeks, so more research is needed to determine long-term benefits.
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted. (iStock)
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted.
Some yoga studios may use different names for Gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga, such as Foundations Yoga or Healing Yoga, Choi noted.
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“Survivors should also look for certified yoga instructors who have experience working with cancer patients/survivors or individuals with other challenging health conditions,” the researcher advised. “They should not be afraid to ask their oncology team for referrals to qualified instructors in their community.”
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Choi also noted that the research did not reveal whether other types of yoga, such as heated-room or rigorous-flow yoga, are safe or beneficial for cancer survivors.
The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute.
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