# Is raising awareness for breast cancer a huge waste of time and effort? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 20, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-raising-awareness-for-breast-cancer-a-huge-waste-of-time-and-effort/740921 "2015-12-20T14:17:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-raising-awareness-for-breast-cancer-a-huge-waste-of-time-and-effort/740921/41 "2015-12-24T19:07:04Z")
While overtreatment of small/preinvasive breast lesions is a problem, it is incorrect to say that improvements in breast cancer survival are due to screening that picks up lesions that were previously not detected. \*"From 1975 to 2010, the mortality of breast cancer declined from 32 per 100,000 per year to 21 per 100,000 per year (34%). At the same time, the incidence increased by 30%, in particular for localized breast cancers (62%) without a commensurate decline in the number of regional breast cancers. From 1975 to 2002, 10-year survival increased by 28% (from 64.9% to 82.8%). The increase in survival was greater for regional cancers (23%), than for localized (10%) or for distant cancers (3%). The decline in breast cancer mortality in the USA from 1975 to 2010 is unlikely to be the result of advances in prevention or screening. The large increase in the incidence of localized cancers without a corresponding decrease in advanced breast cancers suggests a prominent stage shift, due to overdiagnosis. The drop in the mortality rate could be accounted for by an improvement in cancer survival, likely due to increased use of adjuvant chemotherapy over the period."\* > **[Why have breast cancer mortality rates declined?](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213538315000065)** > > The recent decline in breast cancer mortality in the USA might be due to prevention or to screening mammography or to improved treatment protocols. We… Survival is improving even for patients with advanced stage breast cancer: [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory\_156009.html](https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_156009.html) Our knowledge of adjuvant chemotherapy comes from research and clinical trials (the same research you claimed has “basically done nothing”). > [@Ají de Gallina](#): > > One of the problems with statistics is that they can tell you what you want. Another “problem” is that statistical analysis upsets mistaken beliefs and rigid thinking. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-raising-awareness-for-breast-cancer-a-huge-waste-of-time-and-effort/740921/42 "2015-12-24T19:31:41Z")
I’ve wondered about the OP’s question as well. Just today I saw a sign (decal, magnetic ribbon, I didn’t pay enough attention) that simply said, “Cancer Awareness”. Who’s not aware of cancer? Relatedly, who’s not aware of autism? Or any of the half dozen other awareness programs. To me, it’s nothing but a feel good campaign. “Look! I’ve done my part by buying a decal and put it on my car! Go me!” You can’t put enough information on a bumper sticker detailing what they’re actually doing with the money they raise, I suppose. So we’re left with the short little stickers that make sure we’re aware of things we’re already aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-raising-awareness-for-breast-cancer-a-huge-waste-of-time-and-effort/740921/43 "2015-12-26T02:20:18Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > While overtreatment of small/preinvasive breast lesions is a problem, it is incorrect to say that improvements in breast cancer survival are due to screening that picks up lesions that were previously not detected. > > \*"From 1975 to 2010, the mortality of breast cancer declined from 32 per 100,000 per year to 21 per 100,000 per year (34%). At the same time, the incidence increased by 30%, in particular for localized breast cancers (62%) without a commensurate decline in the number of regional breast cancers. From 1975 to 2002, 10-year survival increased by 28% (from 64.9% to 82.8%). The increase in survival was greater for regional cancers (23%), than for localized (10%) or for distant cancers (3%). > > The decline in breast cancer mortality in the USA from 1975 to 2010 is unlikely to be the result of advances in prevention or screening. The large increase in the incidence of localized cancers without a corresponding decrease in advanced breast cancers suggests a prominent stage shift, due to overdiagnosis. The drop in the mortality rate could be accounted for by an improvement in cancer survival, likely due to increased use of adjuvant chemotherapy over the period."\* > > [Why have breast cancer mortality rates declined? - ScienceDirect](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213538315000065) > > Survival is improving even for patients with advanced stage breast cancer: > > [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory\_156009.html](https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_156009.html) > > Our knowledge of adjuvant chemotherapy comes from research and clinical trials (the same research you claimed has “basically done nothing”).Another “problem” is that statistical analysis upsets mistaken beliefs and rigid thinking. 🙂 I’ll be quoting your post and links. (my bolding) > [@](#): > > The decline in breast cancer mortality in the USA from 1975 to 2010\*\* is unlikely to be the result of advances in prevention or screening\*\*. The large increase in the incidence of localized cancers without a corresponding decrease in advanced breast cancers **suggests a prominent stage shift, due to overdiagnosis**. The drop in the mortality rate could be accounted for by an improvement in cancer survival, likely due to increased use of adjuvant chemotherapy over the period. There are no advances in prevention or screening, i.e., there’s nothing new being done, simply more of the same. Stage shift means that cancers are being detected earlier and simply that moves the 5 or 10-year survival a lot. It also catches women with breast cancer that die or other causes. Increasing the use of chemotherapy is not really breaking new ground, even if it’s done better. Stage 4 survival is increasing, but it’s from 20 to 26 months (median); everything we treat is getting better; although a better understanding of the immune system and genetics is certainly at play, but it also work for all cancers. However, Stage 4 means that 75% will be dead in 5 years. Breast cancer treatment has improved (I overstated the “nothing”) but a lot of money and impetus still goes to two techniques of which one definitely doesn’t work (self-examination) and one that almost certainly does little to increase survival (mammograms). We don’t need more awareness, we need less. We need fewer women worried about breast cancer (except for those with clear genetic chances) because it doesn’t help them in living more. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-raising-awareness-for-breast-cancer-a-huge-waste-of-time-and-effort/740921/44 "2015-12-26T03:21:25Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I have to admit that I have to prompted by reminders to do a breast exam. It’s not something I’m inclined to do on my own… Similarly, the campaigns for breast cancer “awareness” aren’t in the main about awareness of the disease itself, but the steps or activities you personally can take to fight it. In some cases they’re reminders for screenings. in some for donations or purchases that give a piece of the sale to research. Other people get reminded of the runs or walks or whatever and the need to sign up, get sponsors, etc. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-raising-awareness-for-breast-cancer-a-huge-waste-of-time-and-effort/740921/45 "2015-12-28T03:08:29Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > Children having cancer or any disease is horribly wrong and unfair, but your comment is an insensitive slap in the face to many of us who are beyond childhood and have survived cancer (so far). Really what I want to say would get me a stern warning. What you’ve said is that insulting to me. I had no idea economics was so insulating. Do you deny that there are a limited number of resources that can go to cancer research/treatment? Do you deny that breast cancer gets a disproportionate amount of those resources? Do you deny that curing a child’s cancer will result in more years of post cancer life? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-raising-awareness-for-breast-cancer-a-huge-waste-of-time-and-effort/740921/46 "2015-12-28T15:25:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t know where all that money goes aside from the manufacturers of pink dye. Lack of awareness of breast cancer is not a problem. I hope the money they raise is being put to some useful purpose. I have thought that it might be more worthwhile to spend the marketing effort to raise awareness among _researchers_ to try to convince them to spend more of their time on researching potential breast cancer cures and less time on observing marsupial mating practices or digging up bones in the Middle East. Would this work? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-raising-awareness-for-breast-cancer-a-huge-waste-of-time-and-effort/740921.md?page=2)