New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines You Should Know

If you have been confused in the past by changes in breast cancer screening guidelines, buckle up! Recently, more changes have been passed down as guidelines, so it’s important to make sure you’re knowledgeable. 

Differing guidelines are espoused by three important groups involved in protecting women from breast cancer. The newest change was announced in May of this year, and is primarily concerned with “individual risk profiles.” Here are the new breast cancer screening guidelines you should know about.

THE THREE MOST INFLUENTIAL GUIDELINES

There are a number of groups and associations that provide guidelines about breast cancer screening, and we will focus on these three.

THE MOST RECENT CHANGES AND WHY

The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) is the largest organization of breast cancer surgeons in the US. This group justifies their new guidelines based on their unique perspective of first hand relationship with breast cancer patients and the journey through the disease. They advocate for increased years of life versus costs.

They recommend the following changes:

The risk assessment should include a full family history of breast cancer, a discussion of genetic testing, and presence of BRCA gene. Women with average risk and dense breasts are recommended to undergo an annual 3D mammography for more thorough analysis of their breast tissue.

The ASBrS believes that catching cancer early increases the odds of a successful treatment and accounts for individual risk profiles. More details about the ASBrS and their approach to early breast cancer diagnosis can be found in their own detailed statement   about the topic.

GUIDELINES SET BY THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

This group holds to the following guidelines:

GUIDELINES SET BY THE US PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE

This group differs from the other two in its recommendations:

This organization believes that the issue of risks and adverse effects should determine when and how often women should have breast cancer screenings. There is always the probability of false positives and false negatives, over treatment, unnecessary procedures, additional costs, and anxiety that may lead to inaccurate findings. This causes many doctors to question the value of breast cancer screening including when to begin, how often, and how long to continue said screenings.

WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU?

It is important to do self exams, clinical exams, and screenings. Implementing all three together are your best defense against breast cancer. Instead of becoming even more confused, have a discussion with Atlanta Obstetrics & Gynecology to determine a plan that’s right for you.

As always, if you have any further questions, contact Atlanta Obstetrics & Gynecology today! 

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