Shocking Results From Mammography Study
There's been a lot of debate over the years when and why women should get mammograms.
Now a new recommendation says women in their forties don't need to get mammograms if breast cancer is not in their family history.
Channel 3's Bree Sison talks to one cancer survivor who says those new guidelines may limit a woman's choices.
"It's got to be the scariest thing that ever happened."
Hearing the words "you have breast cancer" is something you never quite shake.
"I got the diagnosis and it changed everything. It puts things in a different perspective when you're facing death."
For frances yeo early detection was key.
"I had been having mammograms since I was in my early 30s."
And her continued vigilance after a first diagnosis has likely saved her life.
Yet new recommendations from a government task force say women actually need mammograms less often and not until they're 50.
"Screening every two years captures most of the benefit in terms of reducing breast cancer mortality, while decreasing the harms."
The task force say the harms of too many mammograms include false positives and unnecessary biopsies.
To some patients, like Yeo who has had several false positives, the harm created isn't worth not knowing if you do have cancer.
"The whole idea of early detection is that it gives you choices. That's why we've done follow-ups to everything. That's why I've caught all 4 of the other cancers. that's why I'm alive today is because of early diagnosis."
It's important to note Yeo's family history put her at high-risk for breast cancer.
Despite the guidelines, oncologists say high-risk patients should be screened earlier and more often.Shocking Results From Mammography Study
Now a new recommendation says women in their forties don't need to get mammograms if breast cancer is not in their family history.
Channel 3's Bree Sison talks to one cancer survivor who says those new guidelines may limit a woman's choices.
"It's got to be the scariest thing that ever happened."
Hearing the words "you have breast cancer" is something you never quite shake.
"I got the diagnosis and it changed everything. It puts things in a different perspective when you're facing death."
For frances yeo early detection was key.
"I had been having mammograms since I was in my early 30s."
And her continued vigilance after a first diagnosis has likely saved her life.
Yet new recommendations from a government task force say women actually need mammograms less often and not until they're 50.
"Screening every two years captures most of the benefit in terms of reducing breast cancer mortality, while decreasing the harms."
The task force say the harms of too many mammograms include false positives and unnecessary biopsies.
To some patients, like Yeo who has had several false positives, the harm created isn't worth not knowing if you do have cancer.
"The whole idea of early detection is that it gives you choices. That's why we've done follow-ups to everything. That's why I've caught all 4 of the other cancers. that's why I'm alive today is because of early diagnosis."
It's important to note Yeo's family history put her at high-risk for breast cancer.
Despite the guidelines, oncologists say high-risk patients should be screened earlier and more often.Shocking Results From Mammography Study
