Thanks to the new technologies there has been an increase in the cost of breast cancer screening for older women. These were the findings of a recent study that compared data from 2001-02 and 2008-09.

There has been a significant increase in the use of digital mammography technology in the recent times the cost has surely gone up as now the cost is $115 as against earlier $73 per mammogram. Still, this new technology has not been shown to be more effective in detecting breast cancer in women aged 65 and older.

Figures stated by the July 1 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveal that the Medicare spending for breast cancer screening and related procedures rose from $666 million in 2001-02 to $962 million in 2008-09.

"Screening mammography is an important tool, but this rate of increase in cost is not sustainable," study co-author Dr. Brigid Killelea, an assistant professor of surgery, said in a Yale news release.

There is a debate over the adoption of the new technology. Cost being an important factor and also it is believed that new technologies cannot simply be adopted because they are theoretically superior. What is more important is that all the patients deserve a sustained effort to determine that what approach to screening is effective and which ones are not as in some cases breast cancer screening does save lives But still there is no woman who would wants to undergo testing if it would cause more harm than good.

Beside this awareness about breast density should be increased and law encouraging unnecessary screenings should also be looked into.