This work provides a thought-provoking account of how medical treatments can be tested with unbiased or 'fair' trials and explains how patients can work with doctors to achieve this vital goal. It spans the gamut of therapy from mastectomy to thalidomide and explores a vast range of case studies.

The outlook for women with breast cancer has improved in recent years. Due to the combination of improved treatments and the benefits of mammography screening, breast cancer mortality has decreased steadily since 1989. Yet breast cancer remains a major problem, second only to lung cancer as a leading cause of death from cancer for women. To date, no means to prevent breast cancer has been discovered and experience has shown that treatments are most effective when a cancer is detected early, before it has spread to other tissues. These two facts suggest that the most effective way to continue reducing the death toll from breast cancer is improved early detection and diagnosis. Building on the 2001 report Mammography and Beyond, this new book not only examines ways to improve implementation and use of new and current breast cancer detection technologies but also evaluates the need to develop tools that identify women who would benefit most from early detection screening. Saving Women's Lives: Strategies for Improving Breast Cancer Detection and Diagnosis encourages more research that integrates the development, validation, and analysis of the types of technologies in clinical practice that promote improved risk identification techniques. In this way, methods and technologies that improve detection and diagnosis can be more effectively developed and implemented.

In November 1999, the Institute of Medicine, in consultation with the Commission on Life Sciences, the Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications, and the Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy launched a one year study on technologies for early detection of breast cancer. The committee was asked to examine technologies under development for early breast cancer detection, and to scrutinize the process of medical technology development, adoption, and dissemination. The committee is gathering information on these topics for its report in a number of ways, including two public workshops that bring in outside expertise. The first workshop on "Developing Technologies for Early Breast Cancer Detection" was held in Washington DC in February 2000. The content of the presentations at the workshop is summarized here. A second workshop, which will focus on the process of technology development and adoption, will be held in Washington, DC on June 19-20. A formal report on these topics, including conclusions and recommendations, will be prepared by the committee upon completion of the one-year study.

Save your life! Be an active participant in your next Breast Cancer screening and improve your chances at early Breast Cancer detection. Is an early stage Breast Cancer diagnosis just luck or is there something we can do to improve our chance for early detection during the most important cancer screening of our life? It is a fact that some of the healthiest, physically fit women develop Breast Cancer. We wonder how this is possible, after all, they did everything right, didn't they? We buy all the expert's advice on how to prevent this dreaded disease by eating right, exercising and having routine screenings. Still, too many of us receive a cancer diagnosis after having had a normal mammogram result the previous year. In far too many cases, these cancers have been growing for years. Any doctor will tell you, the two most important words for every woman diagnosed with Breast Cancer are 'early stage.' Julia believes that all women can improve their chance at early detection by using common sense, asking the right questions and not settling for results that may skim over a growing cancer which, once detected, may result in a late stage diagnosis. Puzzled when she, her cousin, and friend received Breast Cancer diagnoses, and each at a different stage, after all three of them had had normal mammograms the year before, Julia uses her own medical records and screening experiences, personal anecdotes and humor to show women how too many of us just let our Breast Cancer screenings happen to us. Now is the time for every woman to really use her Breast Cancer screening to her best advantage and come away feeling confident that it was performed properly and competently. Don't let another yearly screening go by without this lifesaving information.

Building on the 2001 report, Mammongrapy and Beyond, this book not only examines ways to improve implementation and use of new and current breast cancer detection technologies, but also evaluates the need to develop tools that identify women who would benefit most from early detection screening. It encourages more research that integrates the development, validation, and analysis of the types of technologies in clinical practice that promote improved risk identification techniques.

Cancer ranks second only to heart disease as a leading cause of death in the United States, making it a tremendous burden in years of life lost, patient suffering, and economic costs. Fulfilling the Potential for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection reviews the proof that we can dramatically reduce cancer rates. The National Cancer Policy Board, part of the Institute of Medicine, outlines a national strategy to realize the promise of cancer prevention and early detection, including specific and wide-ranging recommendations. Offering a wealth of information and directly addressing major controversies, the book includes: A detailed look at how significantly cancer could be reduced through lifestyle changes, evaluating approaches used to alter eating, smoking, and exercise habits. An analysis of the intuitive notion that screening for cancer leads to improved health outcomes, including a discussion of screening methods, potential risks, and current recommendations. An examination of cancer prevention and control opportunities in primary health care delivery settings, including a review of interventions aimed at improving provider performance. Reviews of professional education and training programs, research trends and opportunities, and federal programs that support cancer prevention and early detection. This in-depth volume will be of interest to policy analysts, cancer and public health specialists, health care administrators and providers, researchers, insurers, medical journalists, and patient advocates.