Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition opposes mammography recent guidelines

New breast cancer guidelines from the task force, a government-convened committee of independent medical experts, has suggested that women between aged 50 and 74 should have mammograms every other years and for other, it depends.

What worries critics is that the Task Force’s recommendations have historically affected Congress’ decision as to which treatments are eligible for insurance reimbursements.

Cost should not be a barrier because federal law mandates health insurers cover mammograms for women starting at age 40. This recommendation was classified as a B grade based upon the data to suggest a moderate net benefit of screening mammography in this age group.

“In my 18 years experience, I can only recall maybe one or two patients that have regretted getting a mammogram because they thought they found a lump”, nurse practitioner Holly Shearer said.

The US Preventive Task Force recently finalized their update to the guidelines on breast cancer screening, despite the debate that arose when they were first announced. In each of these instances, task force members concluded that evidence is insufficient to determine the balance of benefits and harms.

And although the American Cancer Society (ACS) at the time joined those two groups in recommending that screening start at age 40, the ACS has since shifted its stance and now recommends that women at average risk for breast cancer begin annual screening mammography at age 45 and transition to screening every two years at age 55.

The AAFP’s breast cancer screening recommendations mirror those of the USPSTF.

Breast cancer is diagnosed in about 200,000 women in the USA every year, killing 40,000. Younger women who deem themselves at a higher risk for developing cancer can decide for themselves whether or not to get tested.

In 2013 alone, 4,780 women under 50 died from breast cancer.