Mammogram Recommendations Draw Widespread Anger

New guidelines saying women between the ages of 40 and 50 should not receive mammograms to screen for breast cancer have met a groundswell of rejection from many medical centers, breast cancer survivors and numerous doctors -- some of whom have advised their patients to ignore the recommendation.

 

The American Cancer Society and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology are among the many groups that supported the old guidelines and have stood firmly by them since the United States Preventive Services Task Force released its new recommendations Monday evening…

 

According to most medical centers that ABC News has heard from, the new screening guidelines will not be followed. M.D. Anderson, the Mayo Clinic, Baylor, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Fox Chase Cancer Center were among many hospitals that said they are sticking with the current guidelines, recommended by the American Cancer Society.

 

ABC News by Joseph Brownstein, 11/18/09

 

 

Mayo, ACS Stand By Old Recommendations

At a time when breast cancer screenings are driving down the death toll, an independent task force is recommending a decrease in testing…

 

The Task Force no longer recommends mammograms for women younger than 50, and only biannual exams for women older than 50…

 

"The recommendations at Mayo Clinic will not change," said Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, of Mayo Clinic…

 

And while Dr. Pruthi acknowledges those risks, she says the major benefit is early detection, which could save lives.

 

KAAL by Sara Swistak, 11/17/09

 

Additional coverage:

MinnPost

Post-Bulletin

 

 

Going agains new cancer regulations

The rules have changed for an important procedure in detecting a major cause of death in the US. However, the rule change is causing an uproar in the medical community and amongst breast cancer survivors.

 

Not only are many doctors and patients upset by the news, they're downright angry about it. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says could be causing more harm than good.

 

Mayo Clinic and the American Cancer Society are also revolting against the new rules and continuing to tell women to get screened in their 40's.

 

"I've seen many women as a result of early stage breast cancer to have better options when it came to preserving their breast, treatments and survival," explains Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, the Director of Mayo's breast diagnostic center.

 

Pruthi says she hopes that will not be the case, but only time will tell.

 

KTTC  by Fanna Haile-Selassie, 11/17/09

 

Additional coverage:

KTTC

 

 

Anger and frustration

Dianne Martinez spent two weeks last month fretting over abnormal mammogram results. Breast cancer and its painful consequences were constantly on her mind as she underwent additional tests that eventually ruled her disease-free. But the time and anguish she endured were a small price to pay, the Tampa nurse said… Michelle McDonough, a radiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, said the report ignores the idea that screening aims to avoid every potential cancer death. "I'm always surprised by anything that suggests you wait to diagnosis a cancer," she said.

 

Tampa Tribune by Mary Shedden,

 

Additional coverage:

WOKV

Tags: Breast Cancer, breast cancer screening, Cancer, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville