Women and Mammograms

[Heartnsoul]

The american cancer society has always recommended women over 40 get an annual mammogram as we all know.

Now the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (a panel of experts that advise the Federal government on health issues) says Most women need to get mammograms only once every two years and ONLY between the ages of 50 and 74.

My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 38. If these guidelines were in place back then I guess she might not be here.

What do you think ladies??? Our sisters, our daughters, etc going WITHOUT mammograms??

[CFrance]

Get. A. Mammogram. I'm living proof.

[graciegirl]

Get. A. Mammogram. I'm living proof.
ME TOO!

I wonder why these changes in advice from government agencies? I think I know.

[CFrance]

ME TOO!

I wonder why these changes in advice from government agencies? I think I know.


$$$ maybe?

[tainsley]

I have my mammogram every year. My doctor recommends it especially if there is a family history of breast cancer.

[blueash]

This recommendation was made in 2009. The published article giving the data for many alternative screening strategies is available at
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf09/breastcancer/brcanart.pdf
It is a data intense read but is very clear on the relative benefits and risks of each strategy. Their recommendations only apply to patients with no symptoms, no increased genetic risk, and they concede that there are insufficient data on whether extending the screening age down to 40 should be considered for African-American women due to earlier risk. The data shows that by extending the screening recommendation down to age 40-69 rather than 50-69 you add about 10 days of life span for the average woman. It is important when reading the report that there were no considerations of dollars. The recommendation was made entirely based on models of benefit and risk to the patient and extension of life. Also keep in mind the baseline. After age 40 without ever getting screening a woman has a 3% risk of dying from breast cancer, or the other way, a 97% chance of dying from something other than breast cancer. The younger you initiate screening the more false positive results, the greater number of misreadings, extra biopsies, radiation exposure which in itself can cause cancer, but also the greater benefit in lives saved from breast cancer. There is no scenario for routine screening that would have recommended screening for a 38 yr old. As always, each person in discussion with their own doctor can make the decision to screen or not at any age.

[blueash]

$$$ maybe?

No, there was absolutely NO consideration of the $$$ cost of the screening nor the cost of the treatment. Money was completely left out of the recommendation.

[blueash]

I have my mammogram every year. My doctor recommends it especially if there is a family history of breast cancer.

And the recommendation from the task force is very clear that it is meant to be considered for healthy women with no increased risk
"The models also do
not capture differences in outcomes among certain risk
subgroups, such as women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic
susceptibility mutations, women who are healthier or
sicker than average, or black women who seem to have
more disease at younger ages than white women"