New Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening

Take-home message: The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) has updated

its recommendations for breast cancer screening. These recommendations reflect the

considerations that must be made for each individual woman’s personal and family

histories.

American Society of Breast Surgeons Official Statement: Position Statement on

Screening Mammography

The role of screening mammography has evolved over decades. The United States

Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have

both released their recommendations for breast cancer screening in recent years.

These recommendations favor individual risk assessment and beginning mammograms

after age 40. The ASBrS released a statement supporting the guidelines of the USPTF

and the ACS in 2015.

Now, the ASBrS has updated its recommendations based upon more recent

observations in the United States. The present and increasing diversity of women in

this country means that breast cancer risk and screening needs will vary from person to

person. Women with previous breast cancer, chest wall radiation, Ashkenazi Jewish or

African descent are some examples of cases where risk and screening must be

carefully considered. General screening recommendations will not apply to every

woman in the same way.

The idea of an individualized approach to risk assessment and screening has created

some confusion. The questions of when to start screening (age 40 or older), how to

assess risk and how to explain risk have created concern and anxiety for many women

and providers. The ASBrS supports a uniform plan to address these issues.

The ASBrS recommends that every woman over the age of 25 undergo breast cancer

risk assessment with an actual assessment tool. The ASBrS also recommends: