Breast Cancer Screening: How Often Is Often Enough?

http://www.dailyrx.com/annual-breast-... Most women should get screened for breast cancer every other year, according to some current guidelines. But many surgeons may recommend a schedule that adheres to different guidelines. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says women who are 50 or older should only be screened every other year. The American Cancer Society (ACS), however, recommends that women 40 and older should be screened for breast cancer annually. A new study found that a large majority of breast and general surgeons made recommendations that were more in line with the ACS. The USPSTF is an independent panel of experts in the field of preventive medicine. The group regularly reviews the latest research. After review, it issues guidelines about preventive care. Other groups, such as the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging, say that each woman should make an individual decision after talking with her doctor. The authors of this study, led by Dr. Vilert Loving, of the Anderson Cancer Center in Banner, MD, found that most breast and general surgeons didn’t follow USPSTF breast screening guidelines. They didn't follow the guidelines for their patients or in making personal decisions. Dr. Loving said in a press release, "We found that the majority of surveyed breast surgeons advocate and personally follow the screening mammography recommendations of the ACS, the American College of Radiology, and the Society of Breast Imaging, instead of those of the USPSTF."