Newswise — Today, the American Cancer Society issued updated guidelines for breast cancer screening with mammography.

According to the guidelines published today in JAMA, “The ACS recommends that women with an average risk of breast cancer should undergo regular screening mammography starting at age 45 years (strong recommendation).Women aged 45 to 54 years should be screened annually (qualified recommendation).Women 55 years and older should transition to biennial screening or have the opportunity to continue screening annually (qualified recommendation).”

Kenneth Lin, MD, MPH, an associate professor of family medicine Georgetown University School of Medicine calls the change in guidelines a “victory of science over politics.” Lin, formerly with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, is a nationally recognized expert on cancer screening in primary care.

"As a former staffer for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force when it released its controversial screening mammography recommendations in 2009, I view the new American Cancer Society guidelines as providing belated vindication for that courageous group of clinician-scientists and as a clear victory of science over politics. Six years ago, the USPSTF was chastised by many health professionals and laypersons for daring to suggest that breast cancer screening need not always begin at age 40, and that once started it made more sense for most women to do it every other year rather than annually. This authoritative new ACS guideline finally affirms that they were right on both counts."

To interview Dr. Lin, please contact Karen Teber [email protected].

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