Post by dgriffin on Nov 25, 2009 22:32:01 GMT -5
Burden of proof: Breast cancer changes fall short
Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:36pm EST
By Julie Steenhuysen - Analysis
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Making drastic changes to U.S. breast cancer screening guidelines will take much stronger evidence than that offered by a federal advisory panel this week, U.S. doctors said Friday.
They said the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation advising against routine mammograms for women in their 40s was a gamble many doctors are not willing to take.
The recommendations to scale back breast cancer screening touched off a fierce backlash from physicians and an outcry from women, forcing U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to renounce the guidelines and assure women they did not reflect U.S. policy.
Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, rejects the notion offered by some Republican politicians that the guidelines are motivated by a push to ration healthcare.
But he said such decisions need to be based on strong evidence, especially when evidence is conflicting.
"Here we have a strategy that has been in place for 20 years and it's worked. The task force is coming in and saying, 'Forget the fact that it worked. We think this is the right way.' If the science was strong, we would agree with it," Lichtenfeld said.
"If they are right, no problem. But if they are wrong, we won't find out for 20 years. That is the risk," he said.
CONTINUED AT:
www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUKTRE5AJ3GO20091120
Anyone have the feeling this was typical elitist arrogance on the part of some in the medical community?
Can I say, I told ya so? ;D