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Doctor explains why mammograms should start at age 40
Breast cancer screenings for women at average risk should be done every other year beginning at age 40, according to finalized guidance released Tuesday from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of national experts.
This means mammograms should start 10 years earlier than previously recommended. Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, explains the change comes after a couple concerning trends.
“We’ve seen an increase in breast cancer in women at a younger age, so about 10% of breast cancers are in women under the age of 45,” Gounder said Wednesday on “CBS Mornings.” “In addition, Black women in particular we’re seeing younger ages at diagnosis of breast cancer, more aggressive breast cancer in Black women, and they’re 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than White women. So really more aggressive breast cancer screening guidelines we’re hoping will help address some of these issues.”
The updated recommendations are based on evidence available to the task force right now, Gounder said, adding there’s still a lack of “adequate information” when it comes to how best to screen women who have dense breasts and whether women over age 75 need to continue screening.
In addition to calling for more research, the task force said, “these women should talk to their clinicians about their options for follow-up testing so that they can get the care that’s right for them.”
The earlier recommendations shouldn’t affect insurance coverage, either.
Gounder said most women already had insurance coverage for breast cancer screening every year starting at age 40.
The Center for Disease Control says most health insurance plans are required to cover mammograms every one to two years beginning at age 40 with no out-of-pocket cost. While the Affordable Care Act provides free mammograms under these specifications, many people can be hit with unexpected bills for second looks and follow-up tests.
“These guidelines are one factor in determining breast cancer screening, but they’re not the only one,” Gounder said.
Other organizations already recommended annual mammograms before age 50.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends beginning mammograms at age 40, every year or two, while the American College of Radiology advises getting one each year beginning at 40. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms starting at age 45, with the option to start earlier based on the individual’s preference.
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NEW YORK – Three administrators have been “permanently removed from their positions” at Columbia College and “remain on leave” over texts they exchanged during an on-campus event about Jewish life at the school, Columbia University’s president announced Monday.
It happened during the school’s reunion weekend at the end of May. The program was called “Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future,” and took place a month after university leaders called in police to clear pro-Palestinian protesters out of an occupied administration building and dismantle a tent encampment that had threatened to disrupt graduation ceremonies.
One of the controversial messages suggested a panelist could have used recent campus protests as a fundraising opportunity. Another appeared critical of a campus rabbi’s essay about antisemitism.
Texts “touched on ancient antisemitic tropes”
“This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,” Columbia President Minouche Shafik wrote in a letter to the Columbia community. “Whether intended as such or not, these sentiments are unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community that is antithetical to our University’s values and the standards we must uphold in our community.”
Shafik said the school will “launch a vigorous program of antisemitism and antidiscrimination training for faculty and staff this fall.” Similar training will also be given to students.
Columbia Provost Angela Olinto wrote that the administrators’ conduct was “wrong and contrary to the mission and values of our institution. It revealed, at best, an ignorance of the history of antisemitism.”
Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett, whose text messages were among those published by the Free Beacon, will continue to lead the college after apologizing and committing to working to fix damage caused by the text exchanges, Olinto said. He and his administration will be expected to “deliver concrete change in combating antisemitism and discrimination and creating a fully inclusive environment,” Olinto wrote.
“While not intended as such, some of the text messages exchanged may call to mind antisemitic tropes,” Sorett said in a letter Monday to the Columbia College community. “Any language that demeans members of our community, or divides us from one another, is simply unacceptable.”
“I am deeply sorry that this happened in a community that I lead- and, that I was part of any of the exchanges, and I pledge to spearhead the change we need to ensure this never happens again,” Sorett continued. He said “the loss of trust and the pain this incident has caused, particularly to the Jewish members of our community, must be fully repaired.”
The university did not identify the administrators, who were initially put on leave in June after images of their text exchange were published online by the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news outlet. The content of the texts was additionally released by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce last week.
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