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Breast cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death amongst women in the United States and early detection is vital for treatment. The U.S. preventative Services Task Force has issued new guidelines which have left some people concerned. The government task force says most women don't need a mammogram in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50. The task force also said that breast self-exams don't do any good and that women shouldn't even be taught how to do them.
Director of Mammography at Shands, Julia Marshall, says these new guidelines could prevent certain women from finding cancer early. The guidelines are for the general population, not those at high risk of breast cancer because of family history. Marshall says these new guidelines might affect health insurance coverage for breast cancer screening. Mammograms can detect cancer early on.
An oncologist at North Florida Regional Medical Center, Dr. Robert Carroll, says mammography technology has progressed over the years and it only continues to improve. Carroll says mammograms are very beneficial but require patience. Carroll says he is very disturbed by the new requirements released by the government task force and he thinks they're dead wrong. Carroll says although breast cancer among women under the age of 50 is uncommon it still does occur. He says routine mammograms are important for high risk patients, and he has seen first hand how some women discovered they had cancer through self breast exams.
Some women are worried these new guidelines may mean big changes, especially if health care in the United States changes. Carroll with the North Florida Regional Medical Center says screening isn't an exact science but it does have the potential to save lives. The American Cancer Society and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are still advising women in their 40s to continue to get regular mammograms.