Mammogram Controversy

Recent recommendations for breast cancer care are out of touch with today’s high medical standards for breast cancer care.

The sponsored panel which recently recommended screenings starting at age 50 and that women not do self exams, is not considered mainstream medicine and not advocated by those involved in oncologic care of the breast: note that the panel did not have a single oncologist.

This recent opinion bucks the trend of over 50 years of breast cancer care and service, calling it “anxiety overscreening" and "overdiagnosis.” In the opinion of many including the American Cancer Society and physicians involved in cancer care of the breast such as myself, there is the greatest value for women patients who had the benefit of early breast cancer detection and care.

As a representative of the American Cancer Society, I strongly maintain that baseline screening with mammograms begins at age 40, and continue to recommend yearly mammograms after that as well as monthly self breast exams.