NEWS 25 - WEHT: Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro-Komen, Area Hospitals Oppose New Screening Recommendations

Komen, Area Hospitals Oppose New Screening Recommendations

story by Scott Adkins

EVANSVILLE - When Cindy Jarrett heard that some government task force doesn't want women getting mammograms until they turn 50 - she couldn't believe it.

"Had I followed those guidelines, perhaps I wouldn't be here today."  Jarrett beat breast cancer in 2006. She was diagnosed at 44. That's the target group a panel says doesn't need breast cancer screenings.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force also recommends women only need mammograms once every two years. It’s those recommendations that have outraged Komen for the Cure's Greater Evansville Affiliate.

"I am against the guidelines of this new report. I think all women, regardless of their age, should be aware of what is best for them and should be getting regular mammograms," says Sheila Seiler, Executive Director.

Deaconess and St. Mary's feel the same way: that early detection, mammographies for women 40-49, is vital to saving lives.

"Our policies will not change. We still recommend women ages 40 and above get their annual mammograms," says Sam Rogers, Deaconess Health System.

Dr. Charles Lackey, Chief Radiologist of St. Mary's Breast Center, diagnoses breast cancer. "Everybody is really upset about these recommendations and we hope they can be overturned.”

Dr. Lackey argues the new recommendations came straight from a government panel. He says the report was not peer reviewed, the literature used ignored landmark decisions and ignored critical evidence that supports mammography.

Experts are skeptical of the report as health insurance reform and cost-cutting measures are debated in Congress.

“When it comes down to it, the insurance companies are interested in saving money, as is the federal government. And the interest of catching early breast cancer isn’t their top priority,” Dr. Lackey says.

“The [government] is going to have to cut costs somewhere. This sounds a lot like rationing health care,” Rogers adds.

NEWS 25 reached out to the Social Services Administration and major health insurance companies. Our calls were not returned.

The American Cancer Society says mammograms in women under 50 are saving lives and it is strongly opposed to the new recommendations.