Mammograms Could Be Risky For Women Under 40
Mammograms Could Be Risky For Women Under 40, according to recent guidelines put forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
They are saying that Women in this age group should talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits of a mammogram…then decide if they want and need to be screened.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests that Women ages 50 to 74, are recommended routine mammography screenings every two years. Risks and benefits for women age 75 and above are unknown, it stated.
Before, the recommendation was for routine screenings every year or two for women age 40 and older.
- Who Are In This Task Force
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is sixteen health care experts, none of whom are oncologists. In other wold they are like bean counters and the group reviews medical data and bases recommendations on effectiveness and risks involved.
Makes me wonder if they are walking hand in hand with the Insurance groups. Put NOTHING past Insurance companies…they have deep pockets and long arms.
“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,” stated Dr. Diana Petitti, vice chair of the task force.
“We aren’t against screening women in their 40s, we just don’t think it should be routine.” stated Dr. Diana Petitti
- What Are The Odds According To Data
- Around 15 percent of women in their 40s detect breast cancer through mammography
- Many other women experience false positives, anxiety, and unnecessary biopsies as a result of the test
According to Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, “with its new recommendations, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is essentially telling women that mammography at age 40 to 49 saves lives…just not enough of them.”
American Cancer Society sees the data as a whole different ballgame, “Breast cancer is a serious health problem facing adult women, and mammography is part of our solution beginning at age 40 for average-risk women. It recommends annual exams beginning at that age.”
Experts at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, agree with American Cancer Society. They have voiced their concern and stated that they aren’t changing their screening protocol. “We disagree with their conclusions,” Dr. Therese Bevers stated of the task force. “You have to screen more women. It’s the value we put on zero women dying.”
The task force acknowledged that mammograms can save lives and fear their new guidelines may be misinterpreted. “We aren’t against screening women in their 40s, we just don’t think it should be routine,” Petitti said.
Many doctors state that the language isn’t clear and that the confusion may turn women away from being screened for breast cancer.
This will give insurance companies the option of dropping the coverage of mammograms based on the new recommendations. Follow the money…
Already the vultures from the insurance companies are circling the air. ..they smell blood…and Susan Pisano, spokeswoman for American Health Insurance Plans, says insurance providers may revisit how they measure health plan’s performance based on the updated guidelines, but adds coverage is unlikely to be dropped. “Most of our member companies look at [the task force's guidelines] as the standard.
But…if you are in your 40s and have a discussion about risk and benefits and your doctor gives you a referral slip, then that generally is going to be covered.”
While cancer experts may not all agree with the task force’s guidelines, the bottom line for women regardless of age is to discuss the pros and cons with their physician and make a screening choice based on individual needs.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the United States. This year, nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. If you have predisposed breast cancer in your family…make sure that you insist that you get your mammograms.
For the full story of “Mammograms Could Be Risky For Women Under 40,” go to CNN News.
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I know the very first one I had nobody told me how painful they were and you could hear me in Texas I screamed so loudly.
I have always thought they could cause a problem because they press so hard but waiting until after fivety (50) is so stupid I just don’t have the words.
I will just bet this has to do with BO to save money for the government all of this is bottom line and that is a fact.
That’s a surprising study.