According to CNN women in their 40s should not receive mammograms for early detection of breast cancer. This is an updated guideline set up by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
If a woman between the ages of 40 to 49 feels it is necessary they should talk to their doctor about the benefits and risks of a mammogram.
The recommendation for routine screenings was previously woman above the age of 40 but now only includes women ages 50 to 74. Risks and benefits for women above 75 are said to be unknown.
This task force is made up of 16 health care experts (none are oncologists), they only review medical data and base recommendations accordingly.
"All we are saying is, at age 40, a woman should make an appointment with her doctor and have a conversation about the benefits and harms of having a mammography now versus waiting to age 50," said Dr. Diana Petitti, vice chair of the task force.
Statistics say that only 15 percent of women in their 40's detect breast cancer through a mammogram and others through self examination.
Dr. Otis Brawley debates this new recommendation.
"With its new recommendations, the [task force] is essentially telling women that mammography at age 40 to 49 saves lives; just not enough of them," Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.
The task force says it isn't against screening women younger than 49, but that it shouldn't be routine.
I personally highly disagree with this new 'recommendation.' I think women should be screened routinely starting at the age of 35. Yes, it's a painful procedure but it takes a small amount of time. And for high risk women, they most definitely need to be screened routinely starting at a younger age as well. Just because the mammogram detects benign and malignant lumps, it would be nice to know what is going on inside my body. Wouldn't you like to know as soon as possible if you had cancer?
6 comments:
This seems so backwards to me. I think women should get screenings starting in their 30s.
It has been interesting to see all the backlash from this recommendation. This might be what the Preventative Services Task Force is saying, but I don't think many women agree.
I think more research should be shown before they change something like this due to a minority of 15 percent.
And I agree with Sam that the backlack has been interesting. The stories from individuals who were afforded early detection speak volumes beyond what the "Task Force" is saying.
This is so bizarre to me. I agree with Sarah, more research needs to be done before they make this change. I've also heard talk that yearly pap smears may change to every 2-3 years. I don't understand how they think these changes are for the better.
Medical News Today reported the "new USPSTF guidelines recommend against routine screening mammography in women ages 40 through 49, recommend biennial screening mammography for women ages 50 through 74 and recommend against clinicians teaching women how to perform breast self-examinations."
I agree with all of the backlash from these new recommendations, because routine mammograms have become known as a lifesaver. I do agree that better methods are needed to identify this disease before it becomes deadly, however I think it is a mistake to recommend fewer professional examinations.
Sooo, don't get annual mammograms because they MIGHT detect a problem and won't DEFINITELY detect a problem? Only get one if you ALREADY feel a bump? Only get annuals if your middle aged or older?
I don't think women are even close to realizing the true threat of breast cancer or lymphnode cancer.
Maybe, if there are serious risks in getting mammograms, they should be publicly discussed.
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