Mammograms after 50, not 40? No self-exams? What you need to know about committee’s reversal on breast cancer screening
Get ready for a fight.
In a move that certainly came as a surprise to many, new recommendations by a panel published yesterday now recommend that regular mammograms start at 50, not 40 for most women. They also said that women should have mammograms every two years, not every year, from ages 50 to 74. And that breast self-exams may basically be useless.
The recommendations are made in hopes that women will avoid overscreening, unnecessary biopsies and needless anxiety. And it is based in scientific study of when most cancers are found, how aggressive they are, and how successful treatment turns out to be.
But it more likely leaves us conflicted over what it is exactly we’re supposed to do. And it worries some that coverage for annual mammograms for younger women could be dropped by insurance plans.
The American Cancer Society and M.D. Anderson, among others, disagree with the new recommendations.
From the New York Times:
“Just seven years ago, the same group, the United States Preventative Task Force, with different members, recommended that women have mammograms every one to two years starting at age 40. It found too little evidence then to take a stand on breast self-examinations.
“The task force is an independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care appointed by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Its new guidelines, which are different from those of some professional and advocacy organizations, are published online in The Annals of Internal Medicine They are likely to touch off yet another round of controversy over the benefits of screening for breast cancer.”
The new guidelines do NOT apply to women with a higher risk of breast cancer, especially those who have had genetic screening for the breast cancer gene. Primarily, the hope is that each woman will discuss with her own doctor the pros and cons of having mammograms before age 50.
“We aren't against screening women in their 40s, we just don't think it should be routine,” said Dr. Diana Petitti, vice chair of the task force.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add a Comment8 Comments
I actually tend to agree with this. There is a lot of risk from xrays in general. Screening is only routinely done after 50 in most European countries. A lot of women get little cysts and lumps which are benign and often end up having breasts removed unnecessarily and even have unnecessary chemo, etc.. which CAN kill. A theory amongst the holistic community is that it is not always cancer that kills people, but the "cure". Removing a lump may cause worse problems in other areas of the body, according to naturopaths.
November 17, 2009 - 11:47amThis Comment
To the poster above. Of course it is done only over the age of 50 in Europe, most of those countries are on a nationalized health care plan. (which ironically and unfortunately we are heading towards) We have the highest success rate of cure in the world and that is due to early detection and the health care that we have! People COME here to get cured.
November 17, 2009 - 4:31pmReally? Then move to another country to experience the downside of the absence of preventive medicine and you will notice that no other country other than the US has a high catch/cure cancer rate of 98%. Beat that! Get some common sense please...
November 20, 2009 - 8:24pmHi Diane - Get ready for a fight? Indeed.
The volume of and variety of voices coming out on this topic has been really interesting. While there are certainly many sides to this, the real issue is that not enough is being done to help women help themselves in making the right moves to prevent and detect all cancers including breast cancer. This has only been an openly discussed topic for about 30 years and we need more information, not a dictate that reduces access to screening tools or forces women to self-identify as at high-risk for breast cancer and therefore increase their insurance premiums.
As a woman whose breast cancer was detected and treated successfully in my 30's, and who knows other women whose cancer was found via mammograms before the age of 50, I'm truly appalled at how narrow and confusing the information coming out on the recommendations has been. Experts say that the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease, so the advice to wait until age 50 for screening could mean a death sentence for many women. This reminds me of the "old" days when women were told to do what they were told, and many of the things we were told to do were actually harmful. This discussion is far from over and there are many fights still to come in the days and weeks ahead.
November 17, 2009 - 6:10pmBest regards,
Pat
Fight? More like battle or war. I heard this on the news 2 days ago and I honestly don't know what to make of it. I have no family history of breast cancer so I guess I will not be examined for breast cancer until I am 50-- that is, if I make it till then.
I don't really understand why they do this. If no family hx= no breast cancer then I would agree, but it certainly does not. I will continue to perform a self breast exam in my shower once a month. I don't see the harm in it at all.
November 18, 2009 - 6:39amRosa,
In fact, most breast cancers are found in women with no history of breast cancer in their families.
For right now, most doctors, hospitals, breast cancer authorities and even Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius all say that the older recommendations are the ones that should continue to be followed. And USA Today had an article this morning in which they interviewed many of the biggest insurance companies, who said that (at least for now) annual mammograms will still be covered for women in their 40s. A link to the update:
http://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/11/19/will-your-insurance-c...
November 19, 2009 - 9:13amDon't know what to make of it? The purpose is to cut healthcare costs that's why these changes are happening. Not only women but men should be angry as well.
November 20, 2009 - 8:26pmBy this task force rasing the age to 50 for women to start getting mammograms, they have made it easier for insurance companies do deny paying for this procedure for women in their 40's. This is the start of government rationing health care and if you don't believe this see who comprises this task force.
November 23, 2009 - 5:44pmIt is an absurdity for this task force to state that it is too risky for woman to get mammograms in their 40's. Just talk to a 40 something woman fighting breast cancer and see what she thinks.