(WXYZ) - We're asking local doctors to respond to the new mammogram guidelines released by the government. The new guidelines suggest regular screening begin at 50, not 40, and advises against self exams. The recommendations are outrageous to some medical experts, who fear the advances in breast cancer prevention would be jeopardized.
The guidelines were released by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. These guidelines conflict with the American Cancer Society guidelines that suggest screening start at 40 and encourages self breast exams.
We'll keep gathering reaction from local doctors and you can read their reactions below:"I am outraged that they came up with these guidelines. Since 1990, we have noted a 30 percent drop in mortality because of breast cancer and the main reason the mortality rate has decreased is because of screening mammograms. I have told our patients that they should follow the current established American Cancer Society guidelines."
-Murray Rebner, M.D.
Director, Vattikuti Digital Breast Diagnostic Center
Co-Director, Breast Imaging and Intervention at Beaumont Hospitals
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The Mammography QuestionFind a Beaumont Doctor"I don't think these guidelines are going to change our recommendations for what women can do to detect cancer. The task force is actually describing the limits of current screening technology. So maybe our efforts should now concentrate more on finding causes for cancer and concentrate on other forms of prevention. In the USPST's opinion, the benefits do not outweigh the risks in women age 40-49. On the other hand, this risk-benefit balance may change for each individual patient. Therefore, patients with a higher than average risk, such as those with family history, should be given the option of screening -- and that is in the guidelines."
Haythem Ali, M.D.
Senior staff oncologist specializing in breast cancer, at Henry Ford Hospital
Henry Ford Health SystemThe Karmanos Cancer Institute says breast cancer specialists will not be adopting the new guidelines put forth by the United State Preventive Services Task Force. The cancer center recommends that women speak to their doctors about mammography at the age of 40.
Read the entire statement on the Karamanos Institute website:
Karmanos Cancer Institute"As a breast care surgeon at Oakwood Healthcare System, I join my colleagues at the American Cancer Society, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American College of Radiology and numerous other professional organizations in urging women to continue screening for breast cancer as they have been doing for years. I am an advocate of monthly self-breast exams, annual clinical breast exams and mammograms starting at age 40. We know that mammograms save lives, and we feel that deviation from aggressive screening can have detrimental effects on women's health. The new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force would constitute a step backward and lead to the unnecessary and preventable loss of too many lives and will negatively impact women's overall health and well being."
- Majd Aburabia, M.D., Oakwood Healthcare System
Oakwood Healthcare System
The American Cancer Society Deputy Medical Chief is also speaking out about the new guidelines.
"...Their conclusions are bound to raise another round of intense discussion about the benefits, risks and harms of screening for breast cancer," says Dr. Len Lichtenfeld.
"There is certainly nothing wrong with that, with the exception that if we make the wrong decisions or offer women the wrong guidance about the early detection of breast cancer, we could reverse the considerable progress that has been make in reducing deaths from this disease over the past twenty years... Unlike the Task Force, the American Cancer Society is not changing its current recommendations that women at average risk of getting breast cancer should get a mammogram every year starting at age 40," says Lichtenfeld.
Visit Dr. Len Lichtnefeld's blog
