Cancer survivor recommends mammograms
Last November the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force created a
firestorm with the release of their new guidelines for breast
cancer screening.
Here is a short and dirty summary of the controversial
recommendations provided by The American College of Radiology:
Cancer survivor recommends mammograms
Last November the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force created a firestorm with the release of their new guidelines for breast cancer screening.
Here is a short and dirty summary of the controversial recommendations provided by The American College of Radiology:
– AGAINST routine screening mammography in women age 40-49
– AGAINST teaching breast self examination
– AGAINST clinical breast examinations
– AGAINST previously recommended routine screening for women 75 years or older
– AGAINST annual screening mammograms for women age 50-74 (Recommending screening every OTHER year versus the currently recommended annual screening)
I don’t pretend to be a cancer expert, so even though my initial reaction was fury – do nothing before 50 or after 74? And cynicism – could this be driven by insurance companies? I decided to wait for the dust to settle and see how the real experts responded.
Below is a list of 10 organizations so far who reject the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force new recommendations. By the way, if I had followed the new guidelines I would be dead: my first cancer appeared when I was 46.
Below are statements from other organizations:
– The American Cancer Society is not changing their recommendations for breast cancer screening as a result of this report.
– The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends screening mammography every one to two years for women aged 40-49 years; every year for women age 50 or older.
– The American College of Surgeons recommend women get a mammogram every year, starting at age 40.
– Avon Foundation for Women recommends beginning annual screening mammography at age 40, and continue annual screening mammography for as long as the woman is in good health.
– Breastcancer.org firmly recommend that women get annual routine screening mammograms starting at age 40.
– Komen for the Cure wants to eliminate any impediments to regular mammography screening for women age 40 and older.
– The Mayo Clinic will continue to recommend screening mammograms for women age 40 and older.Â
– The National Cancer Institute recommends women in their 40s and older should get a mammogram every one to two years.
– The Society of Breast Imagine recommends breast cancer screening to begin at age 40.
Jamie Inman is the founder and CEO of Stay in the Pink and a breast cancer survivor.
