New Guidelines for Breat Cancer Screening Just Released.
For years the medical profession, in its effort to fight and reduce breast cancer deaths in women, has encouraged regular self examination and regular mammograms beginning at age forty. This may all change if a panel commissioned by The Department of Health and Human Services has its way. The new recommendations, while not applicable to women in high risk groups, suggest the following; 1) mammograms beginning at age 50, 2) mammograms administered every two years rather than yearly, 3) that physicians stop teaching women to examine their breast regularly. The justification offered is to "reduce harm from over treatment." The new guidelines are currently available for review at The Annals of Internal Medicine . It is likely the new guidelines will set off heated controversy. Especially so as they run contrary to some professional and advocacy groups position. The National Cancer Institute...