The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast #448 USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening - Updated recommendations and the reasoning behind them
Jul 10, 2024
Dr. Wanda Nicholson, Chair of the USPSTF, discusses updated breast cancer screening recommendations. Topics include starting screenings at age 40, addressing dense breast findings, racial disparities, and research gaps. Insights on balancing benefits, harms, and personalized patient discussions.
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Breast Cancer Statistics
- Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and cause of cancer deaths in women.
- Black women have a lower incidence but a 40% higher mortality rate from breast cancer than white women.
Updated Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines
- New breast cancer screening guidelines recommend all women start mammograms at 40, continuing biennially until 74.
- This update stems from increased breast cancer incidence in women in their 40s, new Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium data, and collaborative modeling.
Managing Dense Breasts
- Women with dense breasts should discuss their individual risk with their primary care provider.
- Additional screening with MRI or ultrasound needs more research.