The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently made recommendations that significantly change breast cancer screening approaches, recommending against routine mammograms for women 40 - 49 and questioning the value of breast cancer screenings for women older than 75. The USPSTF’s recommendations are not binding but are often consulted by medical professionals and by third-party public and private medical funders. The following are the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® key points in response to the USPSTF recommendations.

• While there is some disagreement about when mammograms should begin and on what schedule, all agree, including USPSTF, that mammograms save lives in women 40 to 49 and over 50.

• We would not want to see a change in policy or reimbursement for screening mammography at this time. Susan G. Komen for the Cure continues to recommend annual mammography beginning at age 40 for women of average risk and earlier for women with known risks for breast cancer. Komen’s current screening guidelines can be found at www.komen.org. We are constantly evaluating our guidelines and would not change them without serious consideration. 

• Komen has funded extensive education, awareness and screening programs. This year alone, Komen has funded education/awareness programs reaching more than 3 million women; and has funded programs providing breast screenings to more than 500,000 women and men in underserved populations. This is part of our $900 million investment in community programs since inception.

• Mammograms aren’t perfect but are our best tool for early detection until we can develop more precise screening methods and more accurately predict which women are at risk for breast cancer. Komen is funding significant research into developing better screening tools as part of a research portfolio totaling $450 million to date.