What:
A special press briefing, featuring a panel of top experts who will discuss the recent U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) release of revised screening mammography guidelines. Many patients, breast cancer survivors, medical experts and government authorities dispute the guidelines as being without scientific evidence. Most importantly, according to many experts, the guidelines would cause unnecessary deaths. This panel of experts will present data to refute the validity of the USPSTF recommendations.
Advertisement
Who:
Mary C. Mahoney, M.D.
Director of Breast Imaging, University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Vice Chair, RSNA Public Information Committee
Advertisement
W. Phil Evans, M.D.
Director, Center for Breast Care, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
President, Society of Breast Imaging
Stephen A. Feig, M.D.
Professor of Radiology, University of California Irvine School of Medicine
President-Elect, American Society of Breast Disease
Daniel B. Kopans, M.D.
Senior Radiologist, Breast Imaging Division, Massachusetts General Hospital
Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School
When:
Wednesday, Dec 2, 10:45 a.m. CT
Where:
95th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, Room E252, Lakeside Center, McCormick Place, Chicago
Why:
USPSTF recently released guidelines that fly in the face of evidence that mammography screening for women over 40 saves lives. The new guidelines recommend that women begin screening at age 50, and then every two years rather than annually, finally eliminating breast cancer screening entirely at age 75. Leading health organizations, including American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology, Society of Breast Imaging, and patient advocacy group Susan G. Komen for the Cure among others, dispute the guidelines and urge women to continue getting annual mammograms beginning at age 40. Numerous studies have proven the benefits of annual mammograms. Deaths from breast cancer have decreased by 30 percent since 1990, when mammography screening beginning at age 40 became more widespread. In a recent message to American women, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius acknowledged the worry these guidelines have incited and added, "Mammograms have always been an important live-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today."
Contact:
Attendees must be registered as press through the RSNA Newsroom. Call 312-949-3233 to pre-register.
/PRNewswire -- Dec. 1/
SOURCE Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
