The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an influential national advisory group, has finalized new breast cancer screening guidelines that lower the recommended starting age for mammograms to 40 but call for screening only once every two years. This approach contrasts with recommendations from major cancer organizations like the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen, which advocate for annual mammograms beginning at age 40.
The task force argues that its guidelines could save around 20% more lives compared to previous recommendations. However, cancer advocates warn that failure to recommend annual screening and additional imaging for high-risk patients, such as those with dense breasts, could lead to more cancers being detected at later stages.
A notable point of contention is the disparity in breast cancer outcomes between Black and white women. The task force acknowledges that Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women and calls for more research to understand this gap.
Insurers will be required to cover the task force’s biennial screening recommendation, but advocates fear that higher-risk patients may face high out-of-pocket costs for additional screening not covered under the guidelines.
This debate echoes a previous controversy in 2009 when the task force raised the recommended screening age to 50, prompting Congressional action to ensure access to mammograms for women starting at 40.
See “U.S. panel, cancer groups differ on new breast cancer screening guidelines” (April 30, 2024)
