Major public health agencies expanded coverage last week. Breast cancer screening Although the guidelines call for the inclusion of young women, some people are concerned that one key age group is being left out.
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced on April 30 that women between the ages of 40 and 74 should get a mammogram every other year.
This is a major change from previous guidelines that said women should start biennial mammography at age 50, but could choose to start as young as 40.
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Some experts object to the fact that the government agency does not include official testing recommendations for women over 74.
“The USPSTF has concluded that there is insufficient current evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of mammography screening in women.” Over 75 years old” the agency said in its guidance.
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced on April 30 that women between the ages of 40 and 74 should get a mammogram every other year. (St. Petersburg)
Dr. Dennis Pate, medical director of Manhattan Medical Services and a contributor to LabFinder, spoke out against the lack of recommendations for mammography for older women.
“I think it’s an outdated view that discounts the potential of women over 75,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Recommendations take into account that older adults may be overdiagnosed and potentially grow slower. breast cancer — But this doesn’t take into account the increased life expectancy of American women. ”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average life expectancy for a 75-year-old woman is 87 years.
lack of research
One of the main reasons why women over 74 years of age were excluded was that that age group was not included in clinical trials.
“When the measure is randomized Controlled test Mammography was performed in the 1970s and 1980s to show how effective it was, but it did not include enough women in that age group to confirm its necessity. ,” said Dr. Jacqueline Holt, medical director of women’s imaging at RadNet, a national radiology provider in Wilmington, Delaware. he told FOX News Digital.
One of the main reasons why women over 74 years of age were excluded was that that age group was not included in clinical trials. (St. Petersburg)
“The risk of cancer does not decrease at age 74; it increases,” she says.
“It is misinformation that cancer grows slower in this age group and that women die earlier from other diseases.”
risks and benefits
The main risk noted in screening older women is the possibility of false positives.
“The Potential Harms of Breast Cancer Screening older woman “These include false-positive results and overdiagnosis,” said a study published in the Journal of American Board of Family Medicine.
“The risk of cancer does not decrease at age 74. The risk increases.”
Researchers said 200 out of 1,000 women over 75 will experience a “false alarm” when tested over a 10-year period, “which can cause pain, anxiety and distress”.
Pate acknowledged that this risk exists.
“Of course, if we continue to screen, there is still a risk that breast cancer will be detected at an earlier stage, or that suspicious images will be found that turn out to be false positives, such that a biopsy is recommended. a lot of anxiety,” she said.
One doctor said the risks of not getting tested “keep women in the dark about their situation”. (St. Petersburg)
But the risk of not getting tested is that “women are kept in the dark about their situation”, the doctor said.
“As I always explain to my patients, knowledge is power,” Pate told FOX News Digital.
“I would rather have the fear of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy for cancer that was discovered too late due to a lack of screening, than the fear of a biopsy that may or may not prove breast cancer.”
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Holt agrees that the benefits outweigh the risks.
“The risk that the USTF is primarily focused on is the fear of false positives and callbacks that do not result in a cancer diagnosis,” she told FOX News Digital.
“Mammography detects cancer earlier and has reduced mortality rates by at least 40% since 1995. better treatment. ”
“Mortality rates have decreased by at least 40 percent since 1995, thanks to earlier detection of cancer through mammography and better treatment,” the doctor said. (St. Petersburg)
Doctors noted that women have the option to continue testing beyond age 74 if they wish, and this should be covered by insurance plans.
“There are no age restrictions,” Holt said. ”Medicare will continue to cover Mammography costs. ”
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) all recommend starting mammography at age 40.
“Testing should not be continued or stopped based solely on age.”
“Each of these three groups sets a stopping age based on a woman’s life expectancy, not just her age,” Pate noted.
The ACS says women should continue to have mammograms as long as they have this condition. Good overall health They are expected to live for another 10 years or more.
According to ACOG, more than a quarter of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women over the age of 75.
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“Screening should not be continued or stopped based solely on age,” the ACOG statement said.
“The decision to discontinue mammography screening beyond age 75 should be based on a common decision-making process based on the woman’s health status and lifespan.”
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, more than a quarter of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women over the age of 75. (St. Petersburg)
USPSTF Chair Dr. Wanda Nicholson sent a statement to Fox News Digital about the decision to exclude women 74 and older from the advisory.
“Women have a right to know what the science says about how they can do their best.” stay healthy “As you get older,” she said.
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“We have carefully considered all available evidence on whether women over 75 should be screened for breast cancer, but unfortunately the available research was limited. ”
“Women have a right to know what science tells us about the best ways to stay healthy as we age,” the doctor said. (St. Petersburg)
“Research on breast cancer screening has not included women in this age group, so we urgently need further evidence on this important population.”
“In the meantime, we urge women over 75 to consult their trusted health care professionals about what preventative care is right for them, given their specific health circumstances.” “I recommend that,” he added.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to ACOG and ACS for additional comment.
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