OU releases results from breast cancer study

Surprising results of a breast cancer study spearheaded by OU Medical Center. <br><br>OU researchers say women at high risk of breast cancer shouldn't rely solely on mammograms and physical exams.

Tuesday, November 6th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Surprising results of a breast cancer study spearheaded by OU Medical Center.

OU researchers say women at high risk of breast cancer shouldn't rely solely on mammograms and physical exams. OU teamed up with 18 other breast centers across the nation and found 24% of women who thought they were in the clear really weren't. They had precancerous cells in their breasts. Researchers found those cells through ductal lavage a procedure, where cells in a woman's milk ducts are washed out for examination. Dr William Dooley with the OU Breast Institute, â€œIf you have these â€œAâ€ typical premalignent cells in the breast, your risk for developing breast cancer in the next decade is 5 times higher than that of a woman of the same risk level who does not have â€œAâ€ typical cells.â€

OU Medical Center is now studying whether ductal lavage should be included in the yearly breast screening for all women, not just those at high risk of breast cancer.

You can read more about the study is in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.