New Recommendations about Pap Tests and Mammography Screenings
Following on the heels of the AHRG's new guidelines for mammography screening, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynocologists recommend that the first cervical cancer screening be delayed until age 21 as well as a recommendation for less frequent Pap tests and dropping the test after 65 under certain circumstances:
In the rush to criticize and oppose the new AHRG's guidelines, women over 65 are again relegated to the last paragraph of the release about the new cervical cancer tests:
ACOG's recommendations on the upper age limit for discontinuing cervical screening remain the same. It is reasonable to stop cervical cancer screening at age 65 or 70 among women who have three or more negative cytology results in a row and no abnormal test results in the past 10 years. ACOG also recommends that women who have been vaccinated against HPV should follow the same screening guidelines as unvaccinated women.
Read the entire release about cervical Pap tests at the ACOG's site. Below are the new breast cancer screening guidelines now vigorously argued on both sides:
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, an independent US government agency and part of the Department of Health and Human Services, has released a report and new guidelines about mammographies and breast cancer screenings:
Screening for Breast Cancer
Recommendation Statement and Evidence
* The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years. The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms.
* The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years.
* The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 years or older.
* The USPSTF recommends against teaching breast self-examination (BSE).
* The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of clinical breast examination (CBE) beyond screening mammography in women 40 years or older.
* The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of either digital mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instead of film mammography as screening modalities for breast cancer.
Go to the Clinical Considerations section for information on risk assessment and suggestions for practice regarding the I statement.
Select for a Clinical Summary of this recommendation
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Here's our summary: Women Aged 40-49 Years, "Do not screen routinely. Individualize decision to begin biennial screening according to the patient's context and values;" Women Aged 50-74 Years, "Screen every 2 years;" Women Aged 75 Years, "No recommendation" (insufficient evidence). And, the USPSTF recommends against teaching breast self-examination (BSE).
The site goes on to provide their rationale for these newly released guidelines.
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