Summary of Discussion: Session 7

Abstract

There were three main points brought up for discussion. With regard to whether screening would be beneficial for women between 40 and 49 years of age at high risk of breast cancer, A.B. Miller indicated that the Canadian data show no evidence of a difference in benefit between high and low risk women. There is a need to balance the lack of benefit and the anxiety caused by screening, and therefore it is not appropriate to disregard the psychological burden of patients being screened. A detailed surveillance of genetic factors should be conducted so that this additional information may be taken into account. Breast cancer may be a malignant disease in which the progression of smaller cancers can occur with variable time lengths. The experience of Canada is to conduct chemotherapy immediately after surgical procedures, and no interval after surgery is recommended.