Komen Responds To USPSTF Breast Health Report

Dear Friends --

Much has been said and written about the report from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which was released on Monday.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® continues to recommend annual mammography beginning at age 40 for women of average risk and earlier for women with known risks for breast cancer. (For more information, please read Komen for the Cure’s current screening guidelines.)

While there is some disagreement about when mammograms should begin and on what schedule, all agree, including the USPSTF, that mammograms save lives in women 40 to 49 as well as over 50. We would not want to see a change in policy or reimbursement for screening mammography at this time. We are also constantly evaluating our guidelines and would not change them without serious consideration.

Furthermore we continue to recommend self-breast awareness and physician examination. Many breast cancers are diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion because women feel lumps or find other abnormalities on self-examination, which lead them to seek medical attention and evaluation. In our large nation of diverse cultures, ethnicities and levels of education, it is very important that we continue to inform women about and help to demystify issues around breast health.

It is also very important to emphasize that the new guidelines are not intended for women who have already been diagnosed with breast cancer. Women with a family history of breast cancer or other significant risk factors should also continue to have regular screening.

We must not lose sight of the critically important fact that one-third of the women who qualify for screening under today’s guidelines are not being screened due to lack of access, education or awareness. That issue needs continued focus and attention: if we can make progress with screening in vulnerable populations, we could make more progress in the fight against breast cancer.

Mammograms aren’t perfect but they are our best tool for early detection and risk assessment. More research is needed to identify screening tools that will be more sensitive and specific than mammography. It is possible that in the future guidelines for screening will be tailored to the individual. But until then, we must rely on our best screening tool: mammography. Komen strongly urges women to continue breast self awareness, regular physician examination, and screening mammography.

I hope this information is helpful to you. I am also enclosing the following links that I think might be of interest to you on this topic:

• The official Komen release on the subject
• Comments from the Komen Scientific Advisory Board
• A question-and-answer document about the USPSTF report
• Statement from Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Statement from Cong. Donna M. Christensen

Be well and stay well,

Dara Richardson-Heron, MD
Chief Executive Officer
The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

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