Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Bates-Dotterrer race leads state's campaign spending spree Elderly woman's kidnapper sentenced to 15 years Restaurant Inspections (No heading) Man killed by fallen tree Saturday Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Elderly woman's kidnapper sentenced to 15 years (No heading) Emergency Services 'Constant state of paranoia' Medford police arrest 7 in domestic violence sweep Politics and Elections Fire chief has sheriff's back Phoenix council races draw a crowd — and debate Winters worn down by criticism Eagle Point might get on the bus Richardson accuses Kitzhaber of 'corruption' in final debate Education Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training SOU student says free speech issue overblown SOU interim president leads in a different direction Medford school officials consider costs of full-day kindergarten Environment Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring Rite Aid cub well, could come back to southern Oregon Neighbors smell trouble in proposal to spread waste on Sams Valley farmland Bear cub captured in Ashland pharmacy State news Nation - World Obituaries Donna Lee Norvell Faith Ann Honer Sherry Nell Bean Pat V. Cutler James Luther Hinds, Jr. Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Challengers capture league tourney crown Crater boys win MWL in dominant fashion Surging Tornado knocks off Willamette North Carolina coach Williams ‘dumbfounded’ by report LSU pulls off upset of No. 3 Mississippi Varsity 541 College Sports Victory puts Raider netters atop standings Beavers fall flat OSU’s pass defense gets failing grade Dodge has big game as Raiders rout C of I Slow start by defense doesn’t foil Ducks Pro Sports North Carolina coach Williams ‘dumbfounded’ by report LSU pulls off upset of No. 3 Mississippi Giants surge past Royals to knot Series Banged-up Packers defense faces Brees Bucs' McCoy inks big contract Community Sports LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories Southeast Village Center inches closer to reality Winco to build Grants Pass store Business briefs Blog: Let's Celebrate! Old-fashioned hat maker Real Estate News New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Opinion Latest Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Dana Milbank: Larry Pressler's quirky Senate campaign Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Editorials Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable Our View: Kitzhaber is still the best choice Our view: Merkley-Wehby race leaves us unconvinced; Walden seems destined for permanent position Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 25 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 24 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 23 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 22 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Don't overlook importance of Jackson County commissioners race Measure 92 misleads rather than enlightens Lifestyle Latest stories Rocks and Rhetoric Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Wedding: Martin-Berg Wedding: Hale-Lombardi Food Community blog: Quick breads take well to gluten-free ingredients Community blog: Barrel Aged and Sour Beers Ledger David Cellars has a new winemaker and big plans Community blog: There's a method to mix, match alternative grains Ashland resident's cookbook showcases gluten-free creativity Home and Garden How to live and work in a tiny home Dear Monty: Rent-back clause prevents financial disaster​ Recycle plastic at The Expo Friday and Saturday How to know when trees and shrubs need to go Dear Monty: Is your real estate agent a secret agent? Health Community blog: Finding My Roots Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening Dr. Murray Feingold: Choose a diet best for you Community blog: The Crowd And The Win - Better Health Joan Endyke: The importance of a healthy diet when pregnant Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Wedding: Martin-Berg Wedding: Hale-Lombardi Wedding: Henderson-Carroll Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Dean Angermeier rediscovers his 'roots' Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Dean Angermeier rediscovers his 'roots' Community Events Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax ... Elderly woman's kidnapper sentenced to 15 years ... Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure ... Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax ... Elderly woman's kidnapper sentenced to 15 years ... Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure ... Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening By Dr. Jeff Hersh, 
More Content Now MailTribune.com By Dr. Jeff Hersh, 
More Content Now Posted Oct. 24, 2014 @ 8:20 am Updated Oct 24, 2014 at 8:21 AM By Dr. Jeff Hersh, 
More Content Now Posted Oct. 24, 2014 @ 8:20 am Updated Oct 24, 2014 at 8:21 AM » Social News Q: What’s up with the controversy about breast cancer screening? A: Many factors must be considered to evaluate a screening test: - How common is the disease being screened for? The more common it is, the more people there are that potentially may benefit from screening. - Are there subsets of the population that have an increased risk for the disease being screened for? If this is the case, screening might only be indicated in some people. - Are there any risks from the screening test? The risk of screening may affect the benefit/risk evaluation. For example, the procedure for colon cancer screening (colonoscopy) carries a small, but non-zero, risk of complication; however the benefit has been determined to outweigh this small risk. - What are the consequences of the condition if it is not detected, and what are the benefits from early detection? If screening identifies a risk factor, early treatment might prevent or improve the outcome of the condition; for example screening for cholesterol and blood pressure can prevent or slow the progression of cardiovascular disease. For many cancers, early detection can improve outcomes. - Is the screening cost effective? The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) looks at many factors, including the cost per quality-adjusted year of life saved (QALY). - Other factors. How does all this apply to breast cancer? Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in women, and behind lung cancer it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. In the U.S. breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women annually, and sadly it claims the lives of approximately 40,000; it is a very common disease. About 90 percent of all breast cancer cases are spontaneous, meaning they arise from a combination of risk factors (some of which are known and some that remain unknown) that alter the breast cell’s DNA to cause mutations that lead to cancer. So although about 5 percent to 10 percent of all breast cancer cases are due to a genetic predisposition, screening only these patients would miss the overwhelming majority of all breast cancer cases. Mammography, the standard initial screening for breast cancer in most women, utilizes ionizing radiation. However, the risk of the low levels of radiation needed for this test is very small. Other adjunctive screening modalities, such as ultrasound and MRI, are thought to carry even more minimal risks. Many cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which accounts for about 25 percent of all breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S., may be self-limited and not progress to cause problems. This has brought up the question as to whether breast cancer is being "over-diagnosed." Unfortunately, there is presently no completely reliable way to distinguish which cases of DCIS will become life threatening and which will not. This has created some of the controversy surrounding breast cancer screening. The five-year survival rate for stage 1 breast cancer (the earliest stage) is 90 percent to 100 percent, but the five-year survival for stage 4 (where the cancer has already spread outside the breast and lymph nodes to other distant places on the body) may be as low as 25 percent; the benefit of diagnosing breast cancer early is quite clear. Furthermore, some early stage disease may be treated less invasively, for example by lumpectomy (often with adjuvant radiation therapy) rather than mastectomy; this additional option is very important for many women. However, as treatments improve, especially for later stage cancers, the benefits of screening may actually become less. The cost effectiveness of breast cancer screening has been extensively evaluated. It is generally accepted that a screening test which has cost per QALY of less than $100,000 is cost effective, and breast cancer screening has been determined to be significantly less costly than this. Another question is how often and at what age women should be screened. There are many factors to consider: for example, a younger woman may have a lower risk of breast cancer, but if cancer is detected, the QALY saved is higher. How rapidly breast cancer develops, and therefore how frequently screening is required to identify the disease in earlier stages where treatments are more effective, must also be evaluated. The conclusion: breast cancer screening saves many lives. In fact, the majority of breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. are a result of screening and there is more evidence supporting the benefits of breast cancer screening than there is for screening of any other kind of cancer. Women should see their healthcare provider to determine what screening is best for them. Jeff Hersh, Ph.D., M.D., can be reached at [email protected] .   By Dr. Jeff Hersh, 
More Content Now MailTribune.com By Dr. Jeff Hersh, 
More Content Now Posted Oct. 24, 2014 @ 8:20 am Updated Oct 24, 2014 at 8:21 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501