USPSTF

American Cancer Society and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are against new government mammogram guidelines.

Really? Women are now being told not do self breast exams, and to wait for a mammogram?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) today announced that it is changing its guidelines for mammography and no longer recommends routine screening for women between the ages of 40 and 49.

However, the American Cancer Society and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as well as the Susan G. Komen Foundation will uphold their stance for annual mammogram screenings and clinical breast examinations for all women beginning at age 40.

The USPSTF, is a government is a task force made up of independent primary care doctors and others whose stated interests include: decision modeling and evaluation; effectiveness in clinical preventive medicine; clinical epidemiology; the prevention of high-risk behaviors in adolescents; geriatrics; and the prevention of disability in the elderly. It is apparent these Doctors making these guidelines are not in Women's healthcare.

The new government guidelines will influence coverage of screening tests by Medicare and many insurance companies.
The American Cancer Society's deputy chief medical officer, Dr. Len Lichtenfeld "Our concern is that as a result of that confusion, women may elect not to get screened at all. And that, to me, would be a serious problem," says Lichtenfeld.

We can expect that these revisions will be debated, and to cause much confusion for women and their doctors. Otis W. Brawley, M.D., chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society says that their experts reviewed all the same data as the USPSTF task force reviewed, plus even more data not considered by the government task force.

However, like the USPSTF, the American Cancer Society panel also found that mammography has limitations, including false alarms, and some women will undergo unnecessary treatment. Some cancers will be missed also but the limitations do not change the fact that breast cancer screening using mammography starting at age 40 saves lives.
And isn't that the point? Isn't each life saved important? Women are better safe than sorry. The USPSTF guidelines tell women to eliminate of self breast exams because they are not necessary. Maybe the USPSTF should add a common sense guideline.

True Imaging, LC is a dedicated outpatient facility offering an extensive line of imaging services. Our Imaging Center provides MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Digital Mammography, X-Ray and Dexa Scans. One of our main focuses at True Imaging is women's health care. We are pleased to offer; mammography, ultrasound, and bone density in our private exam rooms.

True Imaging, LC
4915 E. Baseline Rd. #125 Gilbert, AZ 85234 - Fax:480-612-0133
480-612-0300

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