Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) continues to strongly support the American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for breast cancer screening, which advocates annual mammograms for women of average risk, beginning at age 40. RPCI holds firm to its belief that screening mammography beginning at age 40 saves lives, and that the benefits of annual breast screening continue to outweigh the risks.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent group of health experts that reviews published research and makes recommendations, recently updated its 2002 recommendation statement on breast cancer screening for women of average risk. The new recommendations represented a significant departure from breast cancer screening guidelines currently supported by the American Cancer Society, Roswell Park Cancer Institute and many other national cancer centers and organizations. The USPSTF recommends against routine annual screening mammography for women ages 40-49 who are of average risk for breast cancer; and recommends biennial screening mammography for women ages 50-74.

The new USPSTF recommendations have generated much debate in the medical community and have created much confusion among healthcare professionals and the general public alike. However, neither the ACS nor RPCI has changed its guidelines based on the new USPSTF recommendations.

American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer:

• Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.
• Clinical breast exam (CBE) should be part of a periodic health exam, about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
• Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
• Women at high risk (greater than 20% lifetime risk) should get an MRI and a mammogram every year. Women at moderately increased risk (15% to 20% lifetime risk) should talk with their doctors about the benefits and limitations of adding MRI screening to their yearly mammogram. Yearly MRI screening is not recommended for women whose lifetime risk of breast cancer is less than 15%.

For more information about Roswell Park Cancer Institute and its services, or for general information on cancer, please call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724), send an email to askrpci@roswellpark.org, or visit us online at www.roswellpark.org.