Breast Cancer Screening Age Pushed Back...and the fight for early detection took a step back right along with it...

As you may have heard, a new study was just released by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force about the the minimal impact breast cancer screening has before age 50. The recent news about the breast screening has caused a great deal of controversy with organizations such as the American Cancer Society strongly disapproving the recommendation for women to begin breast cancer screening a decade later (absent high risk factors).

MSBNC's Today Show had a brief story on the change this morning...

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While there was much to be said about the advancement of science and how money could be better spent, there was little said about the impact this will have on early detection. For years, breast cancer organizations have been pushing the impact of early detection. You've heard the messages:

Do your self breast exams. Get your mammograms. Know your body.

And now, in the name of science, we're telling women, "it really doesn't make a difference" or "it has a minimal impact." I'm not sure what a "minimal impact" is when it comes to the difference between life and death. What I do know is that I come from the school of thought that it's better to be safe than sorry. And if it means that even one life is saved, I don't think that a women should stop taking these steps towards early detection (even if it does costs the insurance companies a few more dollars).