Cancer of the female breast. Improving the public's health through early detection

Decision makers who represent the public need to understand the extent of the breast cancer problem, the potential for improvement, and the actions needed to achieve this potential. Informed, dedicated physicians, individually and collectively, are instrumental and can be most effective leaders in this process. There are several evidences of the fine tradition of the medical profession to advocate practices and policies in the interest of the best health of our patients. The North Carolina Medical Society recently adopted a position statement encouraging the provision of screening mammograms and pap smears by both private and self-insured third party payors; the North Carolina Academy of Family Practice recently adopted a position statement urging priority be placed on allocating resources for efficacious preventive services; the multiple specialty organizations developed the widely recognized national guidelines for early breast cancer detection; and the ACR continues its efforts to assure quality mammography services. To the end that this paper has informed and stimulated further sharing, discussion or debate about the extent of the breast cancer problem, the potential for improvement, and the actions needed to achieve this potential, it has accomplished its purpose. To the end that the physician community acts to improve early breast cancer detection, we will have fulfilled the common purpose that binds us as physicians to one another and to the people we are privileged and bound to serve.