OAN’s Brooke Mallory
2:05 PM – Tuesday, April 30, 2024
A major U.S. disease prevention organization has released new official guidelines lowering the recommended age for women to begin regular breast cancer screening from 50 to 40.
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on Tuesday completed draft guidelines for the previous year as cases of the disease increase among women under 50.
Physicians across the United States almost universally accept this group’s recommendations as best practices.
For example, last year the same group lowered the minimum age for screening colonoscopies from 50 to 45.
“This ruling overturns long-standing guidelines that recommend that women begin regular screening with a specialized x-ray test called mammography once they turn 50.” daily mail report.
During the surgery, the breasts are held flat between metal plates and pictures are taken from above and from the side.
Dr. John Wong, vice chairman of the USPSTF, said that recent data shows that the incidence of breast cancer in women under 50 is increasing by 3 percent annually.
Actress Olivia Munn is one example. At age 43, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after her previous tests failed to detect her tumor.
“There is clear evidence that biennial screenings starting at age 40 provide significant benefits, so screening should be encouraged for all women in this country to live longer and improve their quality of life. ” said Dr. Wong of primary care. Physician at Tufts Medical Center.
Although many women choose to have a mammogram once a year, the government still recommends that women at average risk be screened for breast cancer every two years.
The task group said additional tests such as MRI or ultrasound are not recommended for women with dense breast tissue due to “insufficient evidence”.
Experts say tumors may be harder to detect in women with thicker breasts, and tumors may be missed on the first mammogram.
All mammography centers will be required to notify women if their breast tissue is thick starting in September.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), there will be 43,700 deaths and more than 300,000 new diagnoses this year.
According to the law, any lumps that feel different from the surrounding tissue, changes in the shape or appearance of the breast, inverted nipples, peeling or peeling of the pigmented skin around the nipple, redness or indentation around the skin of the breast are all It is considered an indicator of breast cancer. Mayo Clinic.
In a study published last year in JAMA Network Open, researchers also found that fewer women have been screened for breast cancer since the COVID-19 pandemic.
A study of 1.6 million breast cancer screening records found that the number of screenings fell by 14% in the first year of the pandemic.
However, the committee’s recommendations have not been widely accepted by other experts.
representative of Dr. Robert Traynham of AHIP, an advocate on behalf of health insurance companies, said the committee’s decision not to recommend additional testing would have a negative impact on patients.
“AHIP is a U.S. political advocacy organization and a trade association for health insurance companies that offer coverage through employer-sponsored Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and individual markets,” the website states. There is.
“What this means for insurance coverage is that there is no obligation to cover these specific tests for women with dense breasts at no cost,” Traynham said.
To calculate your own breast cancer risk, you can enter your answers here: bcrisktool.cancer.gov
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