ACR Pleased that AMA Breast Cancer Screening Position Recognizes Importance of Screening Beginning at Age 40

The American College of Radiology is pleased that the American Medical Association (AMA), in updating its policy on breast cancer screening exams, “recognizes the mortality reduction benefit of screening mammography and supports its use as a tool to detect breast cancer” and “believes that beginning at the age of 40 years, all women should be eligible for screening mammography.” Every major medical organization with demonstrated expertise in breast cancer care including: American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Breast Disease, and Society of Breast Imaging, recommend that all women have yearly mammograms beginning at age 40. “Since mammography screening became widespread in the early 1990’s, the U.S. breast cancer death rate, previously unchanged for 50 years, has dropped more than 30 percent. The largest (Hellquist et al) and perhaps longest (Tabar et al) breast cancer screening trials ever performed show this to be true even among women ages 40-49. One-in-six breast cancers occur in women 40-49, and 40 percent of all the life-years saved via mammography are for these women. The ACR urges women ages 40-and-over to receive annual mammograms. Women need access to these lifesaving exams. Government and insurers should not get in the way of this care,” said Paul Ellenbogen, MD, FACR, chair of the ACR Board of ...
Source: American College of Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: news