We’re told as we turn 40 that we need to squash our breasts between two iron plates for a routine cancer scan – once a year. It’s unpleasant, expensive and now an American government task force has said that it’s unnecessary unless you’re high risk. Well it’s only necessary when you’re in your 50s and then you don’t have to bother once a year. Every two years or so is good enough. The reasons? Well the cynic in me would say that in America any suggestion of how to cut back health costs would be a good one. But more seriously this task force that premature screening for breast cancer often “leads to too many false alarms and unneeded biopsies without substantially improving women’s odds of survival”.

The recommendation to reverse previous advice is “aimed at reducing harm from overtreatment.” The New York Times reports “that Researchers worry the new report will be interpreted as a political effort by the Obama administration to save money on health care costs. Of course, Dr. Berry noted, if the new guidelines are followed, billions of dollars will be saved.”

What do our local scientists, doctors and other health workers say about how we should be treating our breasts with regards to early checks?

Fewer mammograms?

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