ADVANCE for Imaging & Radiation Oncology

Statement from Adventist Midwest Health: Adventist breast cancer experts spoke out against a controversial new recommendation that women delay routine breast screenings until age 50. Physicians in multiple specialties who treat breast cancer patients at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital and affiliated hospitals continue to recommend annual screening ... Read Moremammograms for women starting at age 40, which remains the recommendation of the American Cancer Society.

“To put it simply, catching breast cancer early through mammography saves lives,” said Dr. Sara Anschuetz, a diagnostic radiologist who treats patients at all four Adventist Midwest Health hospitals in suburban Chicago. “Telling women to delay routine screenings until they turn 50 will miss potentially curable breast cancer in younger women.”

Statement from The American Society of Breast Surgeons: We are strongly opposed to the recommendations released Nov. 16 by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF.) We believe there is sufficient data to support annual mammography screening for women 40 and older. We also believe the breast cancer survival rate of women between 40 ... Read Moreand 50 will improve from the increased use of digital mammographic screening, which is superior to older plain film techniques in detecting breast cancer in that age group.
While we recognize that there will be a number of benign biopsies, we also recognize that mammography is the optimal screening tool for the early diagnosis of breast cancer in terms of cost-effectiveness, practical use, and accuracy. To restrict its use will mean that breast cancers will go undiagnosed for an unacceptable period of time. This restriction of mammographic screening defeats the goals of early detection, which often allows for breast conserving surgery and avoidance of chemotherapy.
The (USPSTF) also does not make a recommendation for mammography screening for women age 75 and older. Women in this age group are at the greatest risk for breast cancer and at the point where mammography is most sensitive.
We believe these recommendations effectively turn back the clock to pre-mammography days by making the diagnosis of breast cancer occur only when the tumor is large enough to be felt on a physical exam. The Society will continue to advocate for routine annual mammography screening for all women beginning at age 40. Mammography screening reduces breast cancer mortality and saves lives.

Statement from Woman’s Health Care MD: This cataclysmic shift in guidelines is diametrically opposite from the American Cancer Society guidelines. The recommendation to start mammograms at age 50 instead of age 40 comes at a time when physicians are seeing more younger women developing breast cancer. We know that survival is improved the earlier the diagnosis is made and treatment is begun.
This change is primarily designed to cut costs, not improve women’s health. This is just the start of government-mandated guideline-based rationing of healthcare.
My whole career, I see that women are the first group to suffer when cost cutting takes precedent over sound medical care.
With the government-controlled health service in Britain, women have about 20% lower survival rates with breast cancer than do American women.... Read More
If caught earlier, there is a 90% cure rate for women with breast cancer in the United States. American women have the best breast cancer survival rates in the world because of our current guidelines that help early detection.

I think there will be a shift from Mammo to BSGI, Ultrasound or Breast MRI imaging. Who knows what the outcome will be. But I do hope all those who need it will not be denied from the insurance companies to get any or all of those tests done.