Recently, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recently released recommendations for screening mammography for women. Their recommendations state that such mammograms should be every other year beginning at age 50yo, instead of the current guidelines of beginning at age 40yo (35yo for high-risk women). Mammography has unquestionably saved many lives, especially in women younger than 50yo. At least 10-20% of all breast cancers are diagnosed in these younger women. Breast cancer in younger women is always a more aggressive tumor, and overall, usually a more deadly tumor, especially when not caught early. When detected early and in its earliest and most treatable stage, the recurrence and survival rate is MUCH lower. Women over 74yo are not given specific guidelines for mammography, as they state that their risk of dying from other medical conditions is far greater than that of breast cancer, despite the fact that breast cancer (1 in every 8 women will develop) clearly increases with age.
The current recommendations by the USPSTF are based on old research from 1992-2001. The medical technology, especially in diagnostics, imaging (including digital mammography and breast MRI, breast cancer research (billions of dollars over the past few years alone, and treatment modalities have made huge advances, which accounts for the massive decrease in mortality rate over these past 8 years from the USPTF quoted studies. Regular mammographic screening began in 1990 – the mortality rate of breast cancer, previously unchanged over the past half century prior, has significantly decreased by mre than 30% since its inception. Clinical breast exams are not recommended prior to mammography, as they state that a clinical exam adds no additional benefit from that given by a mammogram. Lastly, this task force has not made any specific recommendation for monthly self-breast exams. As known, many breast tumors are found by women during self breast exams, prompting earlier medical evaluation, or by an experienced physician who may catch many masses not found by the woman.
The USPSTF has blatantly refused to data and research (and arguably, common sense), when these recommendations were made. No physician of the specialties that should have been involved (breast surgery, radiology, or oncology), had any input on theses recommendations. In fact, the American College of Radiology (ACR) and other Boards still stick to the current guidelines of beginning yearly screening mammograms beginning at age 40yo. Their claims of the “hazzards” of mammograms are unwarranted: discomfort, anxiety from false positives and need for possible surgery/treatment, and radiation exposure. Undoubtedly, a life saved from early detection far outweighs any of these concerns. Discomfort and anxiety is overshadowed by catching a breast cancer in its earliest stage. The radiation exposure from a mammogram is minimal. In fact, the radiation given off from the earth itself is much greater. The money saved by not performing mammograms between ages 40-49 will most likely be the opposite effect – with the more aggressive treatments, surgery, and battling of late-stage breast cancer will cost much more in money, time, and lives lost. This potential money savings in health care does not make sense as evidenced by current research and data/statistics in breast cancer research. My fear is that women that can afford to pay out-of-pocket for mammograms at an earlier age will get them and those who don’t have these means will ultimately suffer. Saving women’s lives and detecting/treating breast cancer at its earliest stages should be of utmost importance. The ACR still supports monthly self-breast exams, yearly physician breast exams, and annual screening mammograms beginning at age 40yo (age 35yo in high-risk women) – these are the best modalities that we have today.
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