Northwest Radiology Advocates Mammograms at 40 for Best Chance at Beating Breast Cancer

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and lately there has been debate about when women should start having regular mammograms to help detect and defeat breast cancer.

Northwest Radiology Network advocates mammograms at age 40 for the best chance at beating breast cancer.

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The following is an article written by Northwest Radiology Medical Director of Breast Imaging Dr. Lori Wells.

“Lately there has been a great deal of debate about when women should start having regular mammograms to help detect and defeat breast cancer.

The American College of Physicians changed their recommendation from screening mammography annually beginning at age 40 to beginning at age 50, and having them every other year instead of annually. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) followed suit, and as a result some health insurers have scaled back on coverage for mammograms before age 50.

As a radiologist with over 20 years of experience in the field, I can tell you most experts in the medical imaging profession consider this a grave mistake. In our opinion the data the USPSTF used in increasing the starting age for mammograms from 40 to 50 was flawed in several ways.

It relied too much on computer models instead of direct research with real women. No breast imaging or breast cancer experts were included on their panel. Outdated data was used and the latest technological innovations in medical imaging were not properly taken into account in their findings regarding over-diagnosis and described harms of mammography.

By putting off mammograms from age 40 to 50, we risk NOT detecting many early curable breast cancers in women in this age group. Increasing the interval to every other year also affects the ability to find cancers at an early stage.

One analysis of the USPSTF methodology shows that approximately 6,500 more American women would die of breast cancer each year if their recommendations were followed.

We’re already seeing some frightful possibilities manifest in the healthcare coverage landscape. The Affordable Care Act only requires private insurers to cover mammograms for women ages 50-74 every other year. Reduction in mammogram coverage will most impact minority and underserved communities.

The most powerful evidence for starting mammograms early comes from our own mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and friends. Talk to the women in your life who have battled breast cancer, and you will find many survivors with powerful stories to tell of only having a chance because the disease was caught early.

For example, one patient who shared her experiences had a completely clear mammogram at age 40. By the next year, however, she had developed Stage 2 triple negative breast cancer (an aggressive form of breast cancer). She truly believes she is only alive today because she had annual mammograms starting young.

With different organizations issuing different recommendations, it is not surprising that women are confused about when to begin and how often they should screen. Many patients think they don’t need to screened if they have no history of breast cancer in their family. Importantly, 75 to 85 percent of patients diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. A lack of family history should not be used to delay screening.

The tide is already starting to turn in the public debate.

In 2015 the American Cancer Society, which holds a great deal of sway in the healthcare industry, gave their recommendation to begin screening mammography at age 45, rather than age 50. They advocate that “Women ages 40 to 44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they wish to do so.” They also reconfirm that “Women who wish to continue annual rather than biannual screening should be allowed to do so”.

Talk to your doctor about the importance of mammograms, and urge your healthcare provider to support early detection imaging. It’s the single best tool we have in the fight against breast cancer.”

jaimie_howellIn addition, Northwest Radiology’s Dr. Jaimie Howell appeared on local Fox TV affiliate, WXIN Fox 59, to discuss the importance of starting mammograms early.

“Our recommendation is that women start their mammograms at age 40 and that they get them every single year. That gives us the best chance to be able to catch the cancer early and gives women the most options for successful treatment.

The risk of developing breast cancer for a woman in her 40s is one in 69. In addition, one in six of all breast cancers occur in women in their 40s. That’s why it’s just vital to start screening early.”

Watch the full interview here:

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