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The government group says self breast exams are useless among the general population.
By Alicia Suka
BECKLEY -- A government task force reports self-breast exams do no good and some women don't need to start getting mammograms until they're 50.
Shocking recommendations given the American Cancer Society has encouraged women for more than 20 years to do monthly self-exams and start getting routine mammograms in their 40s.
The government task force, which is made up of doctors and scientists, reported getting screened too early causes false alarms and unnecessary biopsies.
Dr. Robert Pulliam, of Professional Medical Ultrasonics in Beckley, said early detection of any form of cancer increases survival rates.
"Part of this comes about from a study in Scandinavia which said we over-diagnose breast cancers. If we had not diagnosed them so quickly, they'd go away. Well, I don't believe that," said Pulliam.
Pulliam suggests women continue to follow the guidelines presented by the American Cancer Society, despite the new study.
Pulliam says there's a concern the study will encourage insurance companies to deny coverage for mammograms prior to the age of 50.
However, insurance industry representatives say changes in coverage are unlikely.
Medicare reportedly won't change either. |
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