Even if you’ve had a false positive mammogram you should still have regular screening, Elizabeth Tracey reports

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Women who’ve had a false positive mammogram may be at increased risk for developing breast cancer later, a recent study shows, so regular mammography is a good idea. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson concurs.

Nelson: If you look at broadly the risk to have breast cancer ultimately detected the history of having a benign breast biopsy increases the risk. There are probably many reasons for that not the least of which is that you have more scrutiny of the breasts, which I think means you're more likely to find things in there. That's at least part of that effect.  :18

Nelson says most of the time, follow up shouldn’t be impacted by cost.

 Nelson: Women can incur expenses. Most of the insurers and CMS do support mammographic screening. Good news is most of this ends up getting covered at this point.  :11

So even if you’ve had a false positive result continue to have regular mammograms, Nelson concludes. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.