The founder and lead surgeon of the Las Colinas Cancer Center talks about a recent study.

Irving, TX – Women who think the need for mammograms goes away after they hit the magic age of 75 may soon find that’s no longer the case. Researchers have found that mammograms can very much benefit women in older age groups.

Those findings come from a study that looked at data culled between 1995 and 2009. All told, data related to about 5,000 black women and 60,000 white women was included in the analysis. All women were age 69 and older. Researchers found that women between the age of 75 and 84 were less likely over a 10-year period to die from breast cancer if they happened to go in for regular mammograms. They also found that women age 69 to 84 who had breast cancer were less likely to die from the disease if they had undergone routine mammogram screenings within four years of their diagnosis.

“The study adds to a growing body of evidence that continues to support the use of mammograms throughout a woman’s aging years,” says Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the Las Colinas Cancer Center. “This simple, relatively fast and affordable test can and does save lives.”

Mammograms are currently recommended on an annual basis for women age 40 to about 49. Women age 50 to 74 will find the recommendation drops to about once every two years for the test. As the study found, however, the need to continue screening may extend well beyond age 74.

“Breast cancer is a highly detectable and often very treatable form of cancer,” says Dr. Echt. “The key to a positive outcome is early detection and fast treatment of the disease before it has a chance to spread. All women should talk to their doctors about their personal risks and the need for screening.”

About Las Colinas Cancer Center
Las Colinas Cancer Center, a Choice Cancer Care Treatment Center, is committed to providing the personalized, compassionate treatment that can make all the difference in cancer care. Our state-of-the-art facility, located in North Texas, offers those battling cancer and blood disorders a safe haven where they can find professional care from some of the nation’s most experienced oncology specialists in a supportive, caring environment with an integrated approach to treatment.