Be Proactive, Be Protected
Screening Saves Lives!
Many women understand screenings are an important way to detect breast cancer early and reduce chances of dying from it. But the details of when to start and how often to be screened have been heavily debated in recent decades as various organizations recommend different ages and intervals.
Recently, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released new draft guidelines about mammography, sparking many news stories and new questions.
Dr. Avice O’Connell, director of UR Medicine Breast Imaging and Thompson’s medical director of Breast Imaging, addressed the latest guidelines in a recent Q&A.
Can you summarize what the new USPSTF draft guidelines said, or what stands out to you most prominently from these guidelines?
Very simple: start screening at age 40 if you’re average risk. We feel like it’s a start, to tell people to come at 40, not 50, but we feel like these new guidelines didn’t go quite far enough. The next question is, how often should you get screened? And that’s where we diverge. The American College of Radiology, the Society of Breast Imaging, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network all say you need to come every year. These draft guidelines from the USPSTF suggest every other year. There is a lot of evidence to support every year. Hopefully by the time the USPSTF writes the final recommendation, it will recommend screening every year.
Once women start screening, why should they do it annually?
When people have an aggressive cancer, it can show up in that middle year. So, if you go every two years, you might get away with it, but if you’re unlucky and have a fast-growing cancer, it can do a lot of damage in two years.
What is the most important takeaway for women with this news?
The most important takeaway is, if you’re average risk, start screening at age 40 and not at 50. What is high risk? There are a lot of factors we can add into determining an individual’s risk, things like entire family history, breast density, and other cancers that may be associated with breast cancer.
Does insurance cover women getting screened annually at age 40?
Since 2009 and the Affordable Care Act, one mammogram a year from age 40 is covered by insurance, with no cost sharing. If the insurance companies choose to use the USPSTF guidelines, they may choose not to pay for every other year when you’re 40, and then they may stop paying at age 74. People really have to check with their insurance. If you don’t have insurance, Cancer Services Program of the Finger Lakes helps residents in Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, and Yates counties get breast cancer screenings at no cost. They can be reached at 585-224-3070.
Schedule Your Mammogram Today
Thompson Health’s Dr. Laurie Sands and Constellation Brands Breast Imaging Center in Canandaigua is an American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. For more information, visit www.ThompsonHealth.com/BIC. To make an appointment, call 585-396-6651.