Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of breast cancer: How can we promote informed patient choice?

Stemming from closer examination of breast cancer incidence treads, there has been growing concern about the issues of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of breast cancer. As incidence trends showing a limited decline in later stage cancers shed doubt on the extent of benefit screening mammography holds, women need to be informed accordingly. However, it is apparent that women often do not fully understand the risks and benefits they face when undergoing screening mammography. Further, treatment decisions for women diagnosed with breast cancer are equally, if not more challenging, and studies suggest women are ill-informed here too. As the science improves and allows us to better differentiate bad acting cancers from those with no or limited risk, improved communication tools such as decision aids and shared decision making will be imperative as a means to promote informed patient choice. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.