Alabama lawmaker expresses frustration, disgust with change in mammogram recommendations

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The American Cancer Society released this week updates to its recommendations for mammograms and breast cancer screenings, but many women and men whose lives have been touched by the disease are unhappy with them.

The new guidelines recommend women with an average risk of breast cancer begin receiving semi-annual mammograms at the age of 45. Previously women were encouraged to take the test each year starting at age 40.

The move is intended to decrease the number of women discouraged by false positives, which lead to painful tests doctors worry may keep women from getting the care they need each year once they are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

But for many men and women, including Alabamians, this reasoning isn’t enough when they have lost someone who could have been helped by earlier detection.

One Alabamian speaking out is state Representative Becky Nordgren (R-Gadsden) who shared her heartbreaking story on Facebook Tuesday evening.

While the American Cancer Society guidelines are just suggestions, opponents of the change worry it will discourage women from bothering with the expense and time commitment of receiving a mammogram each year.

Other organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend mammograms every year or two from 40 to 49, and every year after 50, while the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of prominent cancer centers, recommends mammograms every year starting at age 40.

Several commenters on Rep. Nordgren’s post also shared their disappointment, and in some cases disgust, with the recommended changes.

“As a survivor, I’m appalled at this recommendation. I personally think they need to be done sooner than 40. Unbelievable!”

“It is another despairing change in what our health care coverage deems ‘appropriate.’ We best be saving our pennies because I think we will be paying a negotiated cash pay price for many of these services in the very near future. Many polices are carving out mental health care, which just boggles my mind. Makes no sense. I am sorry about your mother, Becky. I know you, like me, miss her every day.”

“Becky I have a big time issue with that too! My mom died at the age of 44 with breast cancer, I was 3 years old at the time. I’ve been getting my mammograms for years, but with this change my daughter will probably have to wait. That is wrong of them to change that!!”

There's a lot of controversy around the new mammogram recommendations. Where do you stand? https://t.co/zBx4dStFFt pic.twitter.com/w9onI2OEMn

— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizTBeShears) October 21, 2015