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New Mammogram Advice Raises Questions, Concerns By Jocelyn Noveck November 18, 2009 7:21AM A government task force is now saying that most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50 -- a stunning reversal and a break with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position. What's more, the panel said breast self-exams do no good, and women shouldn't be taught to do them.   Related Topics Breast Cancer Health Disease American Cancer Society Latest News Endeavour Inspected for Damage Autism Risk for Kids of Older Mothers Go Online and You Can Save the Planet In Haiti, Relief Gaps Are Spreading U.S. To Form Climate-Change Agency For many women, getting a mammogram is already one of life's more stressful experiences. Now, women in their 40s have the added anxiety of trying to figure out if they should even be getting one at all. A government task force said Monday that most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50 -- a stunning reversal and a break with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position. What's more, the panel said breast self-exams do no good, and women shouldn't be taught to do them. The news seemed destined to leave many deeply confused about whose advice to follow. "I've never had a scare, but isn't it better to be safe than sorry?" asked Beth Rosenthal, 41, sitting in a San Francisco cafe on Monday afternoon with her friend and their small children. "I've heard of a lot of women in their 40s, and even 30s, who've gotten breast cancer. It just doesn't seem right to wait until 50." Her friend agreed. "I don't think I'll wait," said Leslie David-Jones, also 41, shaking her head. For most of the past two decades, the American Cancer Society has been recommending annual mammograms beginning at 40, and it reiterated that position on Monday. "This is one screening test I recommend unequivocally, and would recommend to any woman 40 and over," the society's chief medical officer, Dr. Otis Brawley, said in a statement. But the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government panel of doctors and scientists, concluded that such early and frequent screenings often lead to false alarms and unneeded biopsies, without substantially improving women's odds of survival. "The benefits are less and the harms are greater when screening starts in the 40s," said Dr. Diana Petitti, vice chair of the panel. Breast cancer survivors who were diagnosed at a young age were among the more vocal critics of the new guidelines. "This sure seems like a big step backwards to me," said Debbie Hayes, who was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer at age 33 after finding a lump during a self-exam. A mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy and finally a mastectomy and chemotherapy followed. "People are being diagnosed even in their early 20s," said Hayes, now 53 and a volunteer coordinator for the Chicago-based Breast Cancer Network of Strength. "Mammograms are a key element of that." But another breast cancer survivor thought the new guidelines sounded about right -- even though she was diagnosed at age 37, two years ago. (continued...) 1  |  2  |  3  |  Next Page >   © 2010 Associated Press/AP Online under contract with YellowBrix. All rights reserved.   Tell Us What You Think Your Comment: Also Visit: iPad Info Center Billions of Bytes Mobile Device Now Apple Info Center TopTechWire.com Advertisement  Health 1.   Exercise May Not Boost Endurance 2.   Text4Baby Campaign Is Unveiled 3.   Brain Activity in Vegetative Patients 4.   Fish Oil May Fight Schizophrenia 5.   Study: SIDS Linked to Low Serotonin Fish Oil May Fight Schizophrenia Promising study opens research doors. Average Rating: People Are Born To Run Barefoot Study says there's less impact stress. Average Rating: Gates Sees Hope in Innovation To 'avoid bleak outcomes' for world. Average Rating:

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