Boomer women weigh new mammogram guidelines

Older Baby Boomer women have pretty much followed the long-held advice to get a mammogram every year.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey cited in an Associated Press story, 71.8 percent of women aged 50 to 64 regularly use mammography as a check against the possibility of breast cancer.

Among younger Baby Boomers, included in the age group of 40 to 49 in the CDC study, 63.5 percent use mammography.

How will that change now that there are new -- and now conflicting guidelines -- worries women and the agencies that advocate on behalf of their health, namely the American Cancer Society.

A government task force said Monday that most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50.

This is contrary to what we've heard for years, and women are trying to engage women to talk about the issue.

"I was hoping that women wouldn’t listen, but I heard on another news show last evening that one mammography center received more cancellations yesterday than ever before," said Dotsie Bregel in a blog post on her National Association of Baby Boomer web site.

"I don’t get it. I was guessing that women wouldn’t listen. I have a hunch that the majority won’t because most of us have known someone who benefitted from early detection. Even one life saved from preventative medicine is enough."

The issue became even more confused late today when Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius seemed to contradict the government task force.

"The task force has presented some new evidence for consideration but our policies remain unchanged," she said in a statement. "Indeed, I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action," she said in a statement.

"My message to women is simple. Mammograms have always been an important lifesaving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today. Keep doing what you have been doing for years — talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions and make the decision that is right for you," Sebelius said.

One concern is that health insurance companies will start using the new mammogram recommendations to refuse covering the exams for women for whom it's not recommended.

This possibility is getting the attention of members of Congress.

One U.S. representative, Paul Hodes of New Hampshire, said in a statement: “The Preventative Services Task Force recommendations should not, under any circumstances, be used by insurance companies to deny women the care that they need."