In today’s Annals of Internal Medicine and splashed across the front pages of many major newspapers are the shocking new recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that:

1. Women should not begin routine mammograms until age 50 (instead of the current age 40)
2. Women should not be taught to do monthly self-examinations
3. Physician/clinical breast exams have insufficient evidence of benefit.

Was there a new study that changed their minds? No, just some computer modeling.

Did this modeling show that lives would be saved?  No, annual mammography for all women beginning at age 40 reduced the death rate from breast cancer by 15%, yes, fifteen percent.  According the American Cancer Society in 2009, among women younger than 45 – 6, 460 were diagnosed with in situ ( confined to the breast) cancer; 18,640 had invasive breast cancer; and 2,820 died.  These women and their families don’t matter? Apparently mammography saving lives is not a persuasive argument for these folks.

The justification of the USPSTF and its supporters – false positive readings of earlier screening may cause anxiety and 33/1000 women may have an unnecessary biopsy.

Now I don’t take this lightly.  I was diagnosed with high grades of dysplasia (cellular changes on their way to becoming cancerous) and have had multiple biopsies of various body parts in my 20s and the “anxiety” of a false positive (the false parts later leads to relief) does not even come close to the joy of being alive.

What is the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force for if they’re not for prevention?  They’ve recently torpedoed prostate cancer and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) screening.  Economists may say that they are for evidence-based public health policy, I see rationed care and justification for reduced insurance reimbursement.  Talk about a death panel.

Resources:

Annals of Internal Medicine – USPSTF recommendations   on breast cancer screening http://www.annals.org/content/151/10/716.full

American Cancer Society response to USPSTF recommendation http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_2_1x_American_Cancer_Society_Responds_to_Changes_to_USPSTF_Mammography_Guidelines.asp

USPSTF Information including Membership http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstfab.htm

National Breast Cancer Coalition supports new recommendations http://www.stopbreastcancer.org/

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