CARBONDALE - Local organizations will not change their policies on preventive care for breast cancer despite the recommendations issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

The recommendations include no routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years, saying the decision to start regular biennial screenings before 50 should be an individual choice based on values regarding specific benefits and harms. It also recommends against teaching breast self-examination.

Caleb Nehring, senior health initiatives representative for the American Cancer Society in Marion, said the ACS will continue using its own recommendations for screening, which include annual screenings after the age of 40.

"Mammography saves lives," Nehring said. "That's all there is to it."

Dr. Ron Mattison, medical director of The Breast Center in Carbondale, said even though the recommendations are not law, he fears they will have a negative effect on preventive care for breast cancer. He said mammograms are already an unpleasant experience and fears the recommendations could deter women from taking the proper steps.

"It just gives (women) another reason not to," Mattison said.

Mattison also disagrees with the recommendations from the task force stating there is insufficient evidence to assess the additional benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 or older, clinical breast examination or digital mammography or magnetic resonance imaging. He said they have "a lot of good evidence" that mammograms have helped.

Dr. Marsha Ryan, general surgeon and breast surgeon at The Breast Center, said reasoning behind the recommendations could come from fear of false-positive cases, where a fear can lead to additional studies and biopsies. However, she said she would continue following guidelines set by the ACS. She said the recommendations have confused women who do not know if they should continue with the guidelines of the ACS.

Nehring also warned people not to be drawn in by media hype that suggests the government is going to stop allowing women to have mammograms.

"No one's taking away their mammograms," Nehring said.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued a statement Wednesday saying women should keep following the advice of their doctors. She said the task force does "not set federal policy and they don't determine what services are covered by the federal government," The Associated Press reported.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

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