Women are worried about the recent recommendation that women under 50 NOT routinely receive mammograms. It’s hard to formulate a coherent rationale when experts have a variety of opinions. That’s what makes health care reform so challenging, isn’t it? Deciding how to allocate our limited resources.
Here are two perspectives I found in my in-box this morning from the RTIR newsletter.
Dr. W. Phil Evans, president of the society for breast imaging (SBI), says the recommendations are a step backward and represent a significant harm to women’s health.
A government health advisory panel has come out with controversial new recommendations about women and mammograms. The group, going against current guidelines set by the American Cancer Society, advises against routine screening for women 40-49 years old, one mammogram every 2 years for women between 50 and 74, and none for women over 74. Dr. Evans, says, “To tell women they should not get regular mammograms starting at 40 when this approach has overwhelmingly been shown to save lives is shocking. At least 40 percent of the lives saved by mammographic screening are of women aged 40-49. These recommendations are inconsistent with current science and apparently have been developed in an attempt to reduce costs. Unfortunately, many women may pay for this unsound approach with their lives.”
In contrast, a women’s health expert says that women’s fear of breast cancer is distracting them from much more important health issues.
Expert Nancy Sharts-Hopko believes the panel’s recommendations are based on long-term observations about what is effective. She adds that women are being misled about their real risks. “By far the number one killer of women is heart disease. One out of two American women will die of heart disease or stroke, which each year kills 356,000 women, compared to 42,000 women who die of breast cancer annually. Yet breast cancer is the top health fear of American women. We have much work to do in aligning women’s perceptions and self-care with this reality.”
Nancy Sharts-Hopko, Ph.D., RN, is a tenured Professor in the Villanova University College of Nursing. She has worked in the field of women’s health nursing for over 30 years; her published research has focused on women’s perceived health during various life and health transitions. She has also served as a member of and later as a consultant to two FDA Advisory Committees.
Here’s my BIG question: Does it have to be either/or?
Belinda Fuchs is a CPA, an inspiring coach, and frequent TV and radio guest. Her special offers for our listeners are available at 
