Personalized mammography guidelines for older breast cancer survivors

Individualizing Approaches to Surveillance Mammography in Older Breast Cancer Survivors

NIH-funded research Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-10944461

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-10944461 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older breast cancer survivors aged 80 and above who are currently undergoing or considering surveillance mammography.

Not a fit: Patients who are younger than 80 or those who have a life expectancy greater than 10 years may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Breast CancerBreast Cancer survivorBreast Cancer survivorshipCancer Center
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.