Dr. Dyess, a breast surgeon at USA Health System, said that recent news coverage of recommendations from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force on mammograms has caused a great deal of confusion and anxiety among patients.
Her response to women is clear. “Talk with your doctor about your family medical history and known genetic cancer risks, and work together to develop the best screening strategy based on these candid discussions,” she said.
Dr. Dyess hasn’t changed her patient screening protocols. She maintains that the best practice guidelines follow recommendations developed from data gleaned from years of research that has been corroborated by multiple studies. She points to screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society as the golden standard.
“Sharing your family medical history is an important part of any prevention plan. In the case of breast cancer, if you have a first-degree relative with a breast cancer diagnosis, this will impact the age your doctor will order your first mammogram,” she said. “If your mother or sister had breast cancer, you should start your screenings 10 years prior to their age of diagnosis.”
What does Dr. Dyess want all women to do? “Talk with your primary care provider about when you should start mammogram screenings, and be sure to share family medical history information that may alter the general recommended screening schedule,” she said.
