Mammograms And Breast Cancer Guidelines Change And Differ Once Again

If you’re feeling confused about mammograms and what type of schedule to stick to, you’re not alone. It seems that every time new guidelines come out, little time passes before those guidelines change once again. And it’s not uncommon to find differing opinions from different organizations, which only makes the issue that much more bewildering. The latest shift comes from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Why can’t everyone be on the same page?

One reason guidelines change is that concerns are growing about “overdiagnosis,” meaning that there are cancerous tumors that may show up in a mammogram that prove to never present a threat during a woman’s lifetime. As a result, women may go through unnecessary treatment for breast cancer.(A 2012 study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that an estimated 1.3 million American women had breast cancers that would never have led to clinical symptoms.)

Another reason?  There is a potential harm in false-positive tests, leading to worry, anxiety and unnecessary breast biopsies.

According to Breastcancer.org, for each breast cancer death that is prevented, three to four women are over diagnosed. That organization notes that false positives, while good news, can and do result in many extra tests, procedures, doctor visits and follow-ups. With all the various and varying opinions out there, it’s easy to see why women are confused and unsure about how to best screen for breast cancer. To be prepared and armed to make the best choices and understand the reasoning behind them, we need to understand what’s being said.

Four of five doctors still recommend annual mammograms for women in their early 40s, despite guideline changes that have pushed back the age for yearly breast cancer screening, a new survey shows. Overall, 81 percent of physicians surveyed said they suggest annual mammograms for women aged 40 to 44, while more than two-thirds recommend regular mammograms for women aged 75 or older.

“Gynecologists were, in general, more likely to recommend routine mammograms,” added lead researcher Dr. Archana Radhakrishnan, an internist with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. These practices run counter to guidelines issued by the American Cancer Society, which recommends annual screening starting at 45 and screening every other year from age 55 onward, researchers said in background notes....Read More....