“Group Now Says Most Mammograms Can Wait Till 45,” by Rob Stein, NPR, Oct. 20, 2015.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) released a new set of guidelines for mammography screening for women at average risk for breast cancer. The guidelines, published in JAMA, are a slight change from the position the society has held for years.
Recommendations The ACS recommends that women with an average risk of breast cancer should undergo regular screening mammography starting at age 45 years (strong recommendation). Women aged 45 to 54 years should be screened annually (qualified recommendation). Women 55 years and older should transition to biennial screening or have the opportunity to continue screening annually (qualified recommendation). Women should have the opportunity to begin annual screening between the ages of 40 and 44 years (qualified recommendation). Women should continue screening mammography as long as their overall health is good and they have a life expectancy of 10 years or longer (qualified recommendation). The ACS does not recommend clinical breast examination for breast cancer screening among average-risk women at any age (qualified recommendation).
Richard Wender, the society’s chief cancer control officer, says:
“Today, screening guidelines are expected to judge the balance between benefits and harms. And that was actually not a standard approach in 2003, which was a time when virtually all of the emphasis was only on the potential benefits of screening.”
For a thorough review of the ongoing screening debate:
- How Should We Address Breast Cancer When Norms Continually Change? By Gayle Sulik, The Guardian, Oct. 20, 2015
- Period, End of Discussion? Not So Fast. Breast surgeon sidesteps mammography screening debate. — by Gayle Sulik, Psychology Today, Sep. 23, 2015.
- Time To Debunk The Mammography Myth — by Gayle Sulik and Bonnie Spanier, CNN, Mar. 18, 2014
- Canadian National Breast Screening Study, — by Bonnie Spanier and Gayle Sulik, Breast Cancer Consortium Research Brief, Feb. 12, 2014.
- JAMA Editorial: Why I’m Opting Out of Mammography — by Gayle Sulik, Breast Cancer Consortium Research Brief, Dec. 6, 2014.
- Amy Robach Story Spreads Heartfelt Misinformation by Gayle Sulik, Psychology Today, Dec. 10, 2013.
The Mammogram Myth, Alive and Well on “Good Morning America” by Gayle Sulik, Psychology Today “Essential Reads,” Nov. 14, 2013. - The Mammography Debate: To Screen or Not to Screen? by Gayle Sulik, ShareCare, May 20, 2013.
- Factoids & Impressions from Breast Cancer Awareness Ads by Gayle Sulik, Oxford University Press, Oct. 26, 2011.
- Pink Ribbon Blues: How Breast Cancer Culture Undermines Women’s Health (Oxford University Press, 2011.)
