Fox 28: South Bend, Elkhart IN News, Weather, SportsNew study on mammograms sparks heated debate

New study on mammograms sparks heated debate

Posted by: Nadia Crow

Is waiting for a mammogram a wise choice or a deadly decision?  That's the debate a recent government study has sparked over the right age for women to start getting routine breast cancer screenings.  That study and some health professionals say there is no scientific evidence that says women should start mammogram screenings at 40.  But many argue that the more screenings the better because early detection is your best shot at fighting breast cancer. 

"It was a fluke that I found it to begin with," said Breast Cancer Survivor Tammy Michael. 

At the age of 33 breast cancer survivor Tammy Michael did a self breast exam and found a lump.  She was 9 weeks pregnant.  So she had a mastectomy and gave birth to a healthy baby girl. 

"I was just very grateful that my doctor said let's just do a mammogram make sure it's nothing and we'll take it from there,” said Michael.         

But a recent government study warns women against self-exams like the one that sparked Michael's treatment.  It also says most women shouldn't get routine mammograms until the age of 50 and not 40 years old like the American Cancer Society and other organizations recommend. 

"From the ages of 40-49 the benefit is small and the risk tends to out weight it," said Family Physician Dr. Ken Elek.      

Risks like increased anxiety, mis-diagnosis, and unnecessary exposure to radiation.  Family Physician Dr. Ken Elek says that only women with a family history or those in the high risk category should get screenings at 40 and every year there after.

"It's not saying don't do mammograms on women under the age of 50. It's saying don't do one every year or every other year on women who have no risk factors who aren't finding anything,” said Elek.   

As with any study, Elek says you should consult with your doctor for what's best for you.  But Michael fears that this new information is so misleading that some women will not get the treatment they need soon enough.

“50 for me I probably wouldn't of seen 50.  We've been making such strides in reducing the mortality rate for breast cancer.  I fear that this is maybe going to take some steps backwards,” said Michael.

Dr. Elek says that in European countries like Great Britain, their health organizations recommend that women over the age of 50 have routine mammograms every three years.  So even with these new recommendations, the US is still more cautious than other elite nations.