Irving, TX, May, 2016 – Women may soon hear completely new recommendations from their doctors regarding annual mammograms if a guideline change being pitched is adopted. The new recommendations have raised concerns among many in the medical community who fear they may result in more breast cancer associated deaths.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force is recommending that guidelines be changed to state that women between the age of 50 and 74 years of age receive biannual mammogram screenings. The change would basically lift the recommendation that annual screenings start at the age of 40. While the American Cancer Society insists that annual screenings starting at the age of 40 save lives, the task force has stated concerns about an “over-diagnosis” rate prompted its decision.

“The concern among many healthcare providers is that women will no longer report for these lifesaving tests if the change goes through,” explains Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at Choice Cancer Care. “It is also possible that many insurance companies will stop paying for the screening test for those age 40 to 49 if the Affordable Care Act no longer requires payment.”

While Congress has delayed taking action on the recommendation for two years, many advocates of screening are rallying to make sure the changes don’t go through. Women age 40 to 49 are still urged to go in for annual mammogram exams. It is estimated that some 246,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Courtesy of early detection and rapid intervention, only about 40,000 women die from breast cancer annually. The fear is that the survival rate will plummet if routine annual screening is taken off the table.

“It is a simple fact that early detection is critical for saving lives,” Dr. Echt says. “Women should speak with their healthcare providers about their breast cancer risks and undergo routine screening as advised.”

About Choice Cancer Care
Choice Cancer Care is an independent, physician-owned cancer center network. Dr. Gregory Echt, a radiation oncologist with over two decades of experience, is the founder of Choice Cancer Care. Choice Cancer Care is among the busiest practices in the country for brachytherapy, or prostate seed implant therapy – a cancer treatment plan for prostate cancer that provides remarkable success rates and fewer life-limiting side effects.