SEBELIUS STATEMENT ON NEW BREAST CANCER RECOMMENDATIONS

Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued the following statement today on new breast cancer screening recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force:

“There is no question that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations have caused a great deal of confusion and worry among women and their families across this country. I want to address that confusion head on. The U.S. Preventive Task Force is an outside independent panel of doctors and scientists who make recommendations. They do not set federal policy and they don’t determine what services are covered by the federal government.

“There has been debate in this country for years about the age at which routine screening mammograms should begin, and how often they should be given. The Task Force has presented some new evidence for consideration but our policies remain unchanged. Indeed, I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action.

“What is clear is that there is a great need for more evidence, more research and more scientific innovation to help women prevent, detect, and fight breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women.

“My message to women is simple. Mammograms have always been an important life-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today. Keep doing what you have been doing for years -- talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions, and make the decision that is right for you.”

Calm in a Cancer Storm

November 19, 2009

With the release of new recommendations for breast cancer screening by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a longstanding debate over the most appropriate age to begin mammography screening and the frequency of screening examinations has been reignited.  Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has announced that there is enough uncertainty that we are not changing our policy for screening mammography at this time .
 
This column by the Washington Post’s Kathleen Parker provides a good synopsis of the debate and our position.

Read "Calm in a Cancer Storm"
 
Note: washingtonpost.com does require a free registration to view the article.