Avon: USPSTF guidelines already affecting access

In some states, women ages 40 to 49 have less access to mammograms since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released its recommendations to change breast cancer screening guidelines last November, according to a recent survey conducted by the Avon Foundation for Women.

At its annual Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Forum in Houston, the foundation released data from an online survey of more than 150 breast cancer educators and providers from 48 states and Washington, DC. The purpose of the survey was to examine what, if any, effects the new guidelines are having on the number of women younger than 50 who have access to mammograms.

Respondents from 25% of the states represented in the nationwide survey reported changes in breast and cervical cancer early detection programs in their states. According to these respondents, the USPSTF guidelines, combined with other factors such as budget cuts, have resulted in fewer mammograms being performed, or the elimination of early screening programs for women younger than 50 offered through state-administered breast cancer screening programs.

California, New York, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan are among the states that have made changes in their breast cancer screening programs since the USPSTF released its guidelines.

In addition to limiting access, the USPSTF guidelines may be the reason fewer women younger than 50 are seeking mammograms. Twenty-four percent of survey respondents reported a decrease in the number of women younger than 50 being screened or seeking appointments for mammograms at their facilities. According to some of these survey respondents, many women who were already reluctant to have a mammogram are using the guidelines as their rationale to put off screening, Avon said.

The survey further shows the damage the USPSTF guidelines are already causing, according to the American College of Radiology (ACR) in Reston, VA.

"Allowing a small number of people with no demonstrated expertise in breast cancer care to make recommendations regarding diagnosis of the nation's second leading cancer killer makes no scientific sense, and has set off a chain of political and clinical events that many women may ultimately pay for with their lives," said Dr. James Thrall, chair of the ACR's Board of Chancellors. "Lawmakers at all levels need to act now to ensure that these recommendations do no further damage, and that women have full and ready access to mammography."

By Kate Madden Yee
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
February 22, 2010

Related Reading

USPSTF guidelines influencing doctors, poll finds, February 16, 2010

Editorial: Research flaws make USPSTF guidelines obsolete, February 8, 2010

ACR, SBI: Breast cancer screening should begin at 40, January 4, 2010

U.S. debate over mammograms splits along party lines, December 3, 2009

Panel of radiologists rejects USPSTF mammogram guidelines, December 2, 2009

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