SC Connecticut News

On May 9, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement in response to recommendations issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force regarding breast cancer.

The Task Force recommends that women should start getting screening mammograms for breast cancer at the age of 40 every two years. This is a change from current guidelines, which advise starting biennial screening by age 50. The Task Force also noted that there was not enough evidence to assess the risk vs. benefits of using alternative or additional forms of imaging, such as ultrasound or MRIs, to detect breast cancer in women with dense breasts.

“First, I want to applaud the Task Force’s decision to recommend women begin breast cancer screenings at age 40. This is positive and is a decision that will help women detect breast cancer earlier and save lives. However, I am concerned about a recommendation that only suggests biennial screenings. Women should receive screenings annually.

“Furthermore, I am worried about the 45 percent of women ages 40 and over who have dense breasts, and for whom mammograms may not be as effective in catching early-stage breast cancer. This is particularly frustrating as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally released its nationwide breast density notification standard that will take effect on September 10, 2024.

“Insurers rely on the Task Force recommendations for preventive screenings. Because of the ‘inadequate’ grade regarding screening for women with dense breasts, insurers will not cover ultrasounds or MRIs that are more likely to find tumors. Now, with the new FDA standard that requires providers to let women know if they have dense breasts and if they may need additional screenings to detect breast cancer, for the majority of women in this country their insurance will not cover those additional screenings. There is no doubt that some will forego additional screenings, especially when they face upwards of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for screenings, which means their breast cancer may only be detected once it is at a much more advanced stage.

“Lives hang in the balance, and this is a bureaucratic delay. I am deeply disappointed that the Task Force has failed to issue a more forceful recommendation on this subject. They have ignored the existing body of evidence that shows that women with dense breasts need additional screening beyond a mammogram. We know that the earlier a woman detects breast cancer, the better chance she has of surviving it. We can help women find it early. I urge all who share my concerns to use their voices and comment on the recommendation, and I will make my views clear in a formal comment to the Task Force as well.”

Issues: Health Care

Original source can be found here.