INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of non-skin cancer and the most frequent
cause of cancer death in women worldwide, and the second most frequent cause of
cancer death in United States women. (See "Clinical features, diagnosis, and
staging of newly diagnosed breast cancer", section on 'Introduction' and "Clinical
features, diagnosis, and staging of newly diagnosed breast cancer", section on
'Epidemiology' and "Diagnostic evaluation of women with suspected breast cancer",
section on 'Introduction'.)

The majority of breast cancers in the United States are diagnosed as a result of an
abnormal screening study, although a significant number are first brought to
attention by a patient. Findings suggest that screening mammography both reduces
the odds of dying of breast cancer and facilitates the use of early treatment.
While the odds of dying of metastatic breast cancer are roughly one-third of what
they were in the 1980s, it is thought that improvements in breast cancer treatment
are more likely responsible for this reduction in mortality than screening [1-4].

Recommendations for breast cancer screening, taking into account the risk of
developing breast cancer, other parameters that might affect screening decisions,
and benefits and harms of screening, are discussed here.

Identification and management of women with a genetic predisposition to breast

cancer, and surveillance in women with a personal history of breast cancer, are
discussed in detail separately. (See "Genetic counseling and testing for hereditary
breast and ovarian cancer" and "Management of patients at high risk for breast and
ovarian cancer" and "Approach to the patient following treatment for breast
cancer".)

The evidence for the effectiveness and harms of screening for breast cancer in
women, and performance characteristics of mammography, are discussed in detail
separately