Unregistered: if you read the responses on Dr. Love's blog about her reasons to agree with the Task Force, you will notice quite a few who ask curiously about her motivations and her company Pro-Duct Health which she sold to Cytyc in 2001 for over $150 million. I don't think she has grown horns at all, I respect her knowledge, and I reserve the right to disagree with her. I haven't accused her of anything, but Steph's musings spurred me to remember a trial she was talking about last year that she was deeply involved in, and it made me curious about potential disclosure on her part regarding her research. I have had a more focused and skeptical eye on her for two years since sitting in on her assessments of research and the ensuing discussion with other professionals on panels at SABCS the past two years. I have found her to be strong in some areas and disappointing in others.
My breast surgeon is also tremendously knowledgeable and important. He hasn't written a definitive book about breast cancer, and he's not a celebrity researcher, but he is a rock star in my book. He was interviewed the day these Task Force recommendations hit the news:
Dr. Ames Smith, chief of surgery at St. David's Hospital, says he is not changing any of his procedures based on the recommendations.
"There is clear data that shows there is a survival benefit in women that have regular screen mammography between 40 and 50," he said."In my practice, I've seen a number of women in their 40’s who have had very early cancers detected, in some cases, even before they've become invasive cancers.
"It's very similar to picking up a colon cancer before it becomes a cancer by removing a polyp," he says. "In those particular patients, there is no question they are glad those things are detected."
Dr. Smith says he also advocates women do self breast exams in conjunction with regular exams by a physician and possible mammograms.
"The thing that's dangerous about breast cancer is not just the size, but it's its biological potential to spread or metastasize, and by finding these cancers before they're invasive, it means we've found them before they've had an opportunity to metastasize, so that's a huge advantage."
Dr. Smith says he is less resistant to the task force's recommendations that mammograms be given every other year to women older than 50.
"That would be something would be easier for me to go with," he said. "I think that in general, women that are older than 50 tend to have biologically less aggressive tumors."
But he says until there is more research, he will continue to recommend annual mammograms for women 40 and older.
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, the largest private foundation in the world devoted to fighting breast cancer, is also advising caution when considering the new recommendations.
"Mammograms are the best tool we have for early detection, and right now we should stay the course and wouldn't want to impede any woman from detecting her breast cancer early," says Ramona Magid, executive director of the Austin Komen affiliate.
She says Komen is not changing its recommendations or its funding for annual mammograms.
"Even with today's guidelines, a third of the women who should be screened are not being screened due to lack of access, so Komen will continue to focus on that area," Magid said.
http://www.kvue.com/news/health/Aust...-70410852.html