Breast cancer survivor applauds new screening guidelines - Bay News 9

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TAMPA, Fla. — New guidance recommends women start getting screened for breast cancer when they're 40 years old. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a federally-appointed panel of medical experts, updated an earlier recommendation for women to start getting mammograms at 50. 

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What You Need To Know

• New guidance recommends women start getting biennial mammograms at 40 years old, rather than 50.


• Other medical groups, including the American Cancer Society, already recommend women start testing for breast cancer at 40.


• Diane Allen, a breast cancer survivor, found her tumor during a routine mammogram and thinks starting testing earlier will be beneficial.

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During a routine mammogram, Diane Allen discovered she had a tumor on her breast. She started getting tested every other year when she was 50. At the time of Diane's diagnosis last year, her tumor was three centimeters and growing to be about the size of an egg.

“If the new guidelines were applicable then it may have been found earlier," Diane said. "They said it was probably there for two to five years, so I would’ve been screened earlier with a mammogram than I was.”

Diane is a neonatal occupational therapist at Tampa General Hospital. Being there for babies and their families gave her a sense of purpose as she spent six months going through chemotherapy, followed by a double mastectomy and historectomy.

“It was devastating, but I also had the mindset like 'let’s just go,'" she said. "Even when I had my surgery, the surgeons walked in and said 'are you ready?' And I said 'let’s go, let’s get this done. Let’s get this show on the road.'"

Dr. Peggy Duggan, chief medical officer at Tampa General, said more and more young women are getting diagnosed with breast cancer and believes starting routine mammograms at age 40 makes sense.

"There’s nothing more important to do than have those conversations with your own physician and make good decisions," Duggan said. "Take the time to do that and then to follow up. So many people say they’ll do it, they get busy with their lives and don’t take the time to actually do the testing. It’s really important. Just think about your family and friends and how you want to be there for them."

When Diane was diagnosed with cancer, she already knew what was ahead. Her son had a brain tumor when he was five years old and went through chemo. While battling breast cancer, it was Diane's goal to see her son walk across the stage at Florida State University's graduation – which she did a couple of weeks ago. 

“He went through all this this last year, coming back down to Tampa every other week and he still graduated Magna Cum Laude," she said. "I’m just so proud of him and happy I could be there.”

Diane hopes earlier testing will make treating cancer more manageable for women and their families, and even help save lives. 

The American Cancer Society already recommends women start getting mammograms at 40 years old. The guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force isn't final yet and the panel will be accepting public comment through June 5th. 

The draft recomendations do not apply to people at increased risk of breast cancer, who may have already started screening at age 40 or younger.

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