Major New upgrades on Mammography

Hi @sequoia, here is the link to the United States Preventive Services Task Force guidance on breast cancer screening https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/breast-cancer-screening
"The Task Force now recommends that all women get screened every other year starting at age 40. This final recommendation also urgently calls for research in key areas."

In the U.S., several medical organizations publish guidelines about mammograms to screen for breast cancer. The organizations give slightly different recommendations on the age women should start getting mammograms and how often to get them. This can make it confusing to know what the “official” guidelines are.

Mayo Clinic continues to recommend starting at age 40 every year. "At Mayo Clinic, health care professionals offer mammograms starting at age 40. Most people should have a mammogram every year." https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mammogram/expert-answers/mammogram-guidelines/faq-20057759

This is also the recommendation of the American College of Radiology, the Society of Breast Imaging, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

For women who have already had breast cancer, mammography may be used to monitor for new cancer or returning cancer. It is recommended to stick to your follow-up plan with your cancer team and/or your PCP.

Breastcancer.org explains further and plainly in this article:
- When to Get a Mammogram https://www.breastcancer.org/screening-testing/mammograms/recommendations

@colleenyoung Thank you for your reply. I’m not too good at getting links in my posts. Glad to hear Mayo Clinic’s still recommending yearly mammograms. I wanted to post as I don't think this is good healthy information. It’s about money and not health. Thank you again for posting the links for all of us to follow and read.

I am an xray tech...mammo tech. I religiously got mammos and ultrasound yearly. In Dec. 2022 had mammo and ultrasound. Neg. Then a few months later I felt rock at 12:30 6cm from nipple in left breast. Had mammo that day and mammo showed neg. I insisted on ultrasound. Neg at first. I made tech do another with my finger on top of lump. There it was. 12mm ILC. I then had mri and it showed it. I had biopsy and cancer not in lymph nodes nor margins. Surgeon said it is like cobwebs and does not always show up on mammo. I did not have radiation and since I had a hysterectomy and am thin I opted not to have hormone blocker. I am osteopenia and take calcium and eat right and work out and my blood work is normal. I decided never to have a mammo again and have ultrasounds and mri. I hate putting dye in my body. Is is so bad for you but I have no choice. I do a flush iv after mri and drink tons of water and Gatorade. The purpose of this comment is to tell women to be their own advocates. When tech does ultra sound she must search entire breast. Mine swiped past cancer. I probably had cancer in Dec. 22 but mammo missed it and so did ultrasound. When I discovered cancer in left breast a few months later because lump was close to skin the mammo did not show it and either did ultrasound. How scary is that?! Anyway, I am having ultrasound in two weeks and mri in july 2024. I probably had my breast cancer for two to 5 years before it was discovered.

@sequoia I totally agree with the yearly mammogram screening. My oldest daughter missed hers at age 40 (because of COVID). At age 41 her screening revealed stage 4 breast cancer. My youngest daughter got her screening at age 40. It revealed stage 2 breast cancer. That it was caught earlier seems to make it much more treatable than her sister’s.

Like you, I have been hearing about the new recommendations all over the news telling women they only need to get them every other year. These have changed at least twice before since I was diagnosed in my 30s.
I have learned that most women (who haven’t been touched by breast cancer) have a mental block about this and love every other year. It is a threat they don’t want to think about.
We know better, so I beg, plead and grovel to get my friends in for screening, every year if possible.
I am not at all surprised that Mayo is still recommending every year. Thank you for bringing up this all important topic.

I felt a lump in January 23. Diagnostic mamm and ultrasound found nothing. Requested mri it was denied. Diagnostic in June revealed “architectural abnormality” and biopsy revealed cancer. Luckily stage 1A. Can you believe they still didn’t think an mri was necessary. I demanded one. Now they say I only need mammography. I’m going to demand alternating mri’s as is the recommended screening for breast cancer survivors w dense breasts. It’s unbelievable to me how they hoard the tests.

Dear kstar077,
That’s quite a journey in imaging. However one comment troubles me. You sound very “T3.” That’s my personal description for:
This is,
That isn’t
And
That’s that!
Namely, by golly, no ovaries, no need for aromatase inhibitor. Well, I had a complete hysterectomy also, but since I value the importance of maintaining a dialogue with my physicians I asked why an AI would needed. My wonderful oncologist pointed out that in addition to our ovaries, our adrenal gland secrete estrogen also. Good to consider, yes?
Wishing you well!

@jessicanell Good job! stay proactive. I pray you are doing well after your cancer diagnosis. Did you have lumpectomy and what other treatment? Blessings to you. Stay vigilant regarding your health. ‘They’ make unhealthy recommendations based on money savings , IMHO. We must advocate for ourselves as you have shown by demanding a MRI. Good job!

I did not write my entire journey with you but I am 75 and my oncologist agreed that the estrogen Inhib could be skipped. I am thin and have osteopenia and osteoporosis could be spurred on by the inhibitor. Also my genetic testing is I favor of low risk. There is a 4% chance of cancer return with inhibitor use and 8% without. So 92% chance it won't come back. My endometrial surgeon said in Oct. Will be 2 years since cancer and 2% chance of coming back. The breast cancer was 11mm, not in margins or lymph nodes. They said they will watch me with ultrasound and mri. I had ILC cancer and slow growing. Remember I found the cancer not mammo or ultra sound. I just have to be my own advocate. I also had a bladder scope and a colonoscopy pet scan of entire body. And mri of entire body and brain scan. If cancer comes back it will be a surprise but my surgeon's and oncologist sees me every 3 months and I have my blood drawn once a month. When I have my mri I am having a flushing iv and drinking lots of water and Gatorade. The dye is my biggest worry now but mri has to be done with dye and there is no way around the dye. Anyway, I am speaking from experience and my truth and research and the fact that mammo did not see my cancer. The ultra sound missed it til I put my finger on the little rock cancer. I was devastated that mammo failed me. Again be your own advocate. I am listening to my doctors and they agree with my direction of care.

If your insurance provider declines the alternate MRI’s check with independent diagnostic companies on what they will charge. My husband just had a complete body scan for $900.00. Radiologist reviews your report and a copy is sent to your doctor . All the best