Personalized mammography guidelines for older breast cancer survivors
Official title: Individualizing Approaches to Surveillance Mammography in Older Breast Cancer Survivors
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-10944461 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to help older breast cancer survivors, especially those 80 and up, make better choices about whether to continue getting mammograms by using a helpful guide that encourages conversations between patients and doctors about the pros and cons based on their health and life expectancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $943,540 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG089237-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10944461 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older breast cancer survivors aged 80 and above who are currently undergoing or considering surveillance mammography.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 80 or those who have a life expectancy greater than 10 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to tailor mammography screening for older breast cancer survivors, particularly those aged 80 and above. It aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a shared decision-making toolkit that helps patients and clinicians discuss the benefits and risks of continuing mammography based on individual life expectancy. The study will assess whether using this toolkit can reduce unnecessary mammograms in patients who are more likely to face harm than benefit from them. By focusing on patient-centered care, the research seeks to improve decision quality and knowledge regarding mammography.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and appropriate mammography screening practices for older breast cancer survivors, reducing unnecessary procedures and associated harms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using shared decision-making tools in healthcare, indicating potential success for this approach in the context of mammography for older survivors.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freedman, Rachel Ann — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Freedman, Rachel Ann
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.