The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently revised its screening recommendations for breast cancer based upon an analysis of various mammography screening schedules. Experts suggest screening every two years for average risk women ages 50 to 74 achieves most of the benefits of annual screening, but with less harm. Furthermore, although there was a decrease in mortality for women ages 40 to 49, screening resulted in additional mammograms and false positives, therefore is not being recommended.
These findings are published in the November 17, 2009 Annals of Internal Medicine. Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic, Rochester, Minn., answers questions related to these new guidelines.
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How will the revised U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s mammography screening recommendations affect Mayo Clinic practice?
What role does the early detection of breast cancer play at Mayo Clinic?
Does Mayo plan to further analyze the mammography screening recommendations?
What message do you have for referring physicians and women of all ages in wake of the revised screening recommendations?
One Comment
MediaCurves.com conducted a study among 600 about the new guidelines released by the Preventive Services Task Force of the Department of Health and Human Services recommending against regular mammography tests for women under 50 years old. Results found that the majority of physicians (78%) reported that they do not agree with the new guidelines. Furthermore, the majority of physicians (78%) also reported that the advice they give to patients will not change based on the new Preventive Services Task Force of the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.
More in depth results can be seen at:
https://www.mediacurves.com/HealthCare/J7646-MammogramGuidelines/Index.cfm
Thanks,
Ben
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[...] Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic, for example, stated in a video on the Mayo News Blog that the clinic would continue with their previous recommendations, including annual mammograms [...]