The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20201
Dear Secretary Sebelius,
As you know, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent federal advisory panel of private experts in preventive and primary care appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS), this week released its report on screening for breast cancer. The panel members recommended against routine mammography screening for women aged 40-49; recommended every other year screening for women 50-74, rather than annually; and recommended against promoting breast self-exams for women. This news has caused great concern and confusion among constituents in my state of Arkansas.
In 2002, the USPSTF recommended that all women over the age of 40 have mammograms every one to two years, though it said that the evidence is strongest that screening in women between ages 50-69 actually lowers death rates from breast cancer.
We know that early detection of breast cancer can literally be the difference of life or death. Arkansas is expected to end 2009 with 1,820 new cases of breast cancer, so this issue hits home for many families in my state.
In your statement on the new recommendations, you acknowledged that mammograms are an "important lifesaving tool in the fight against breast cancer." You also stressed how important it is for women to continue to talk to their doctors about their medical history, ask questions, and ultimately make the decision that is best for them regarding prevention. I appreciate those comments. Still, I urge you to carefully scrutinize these results and any impacts they could have on health insurance coverage, mammography utilization, and breast cancer rates, as I and my colleagues in the United States Senate will do to ensure evidence-based consensus around uniform standards of care for women's health.
I believe further outreach and education is needed from the federal government and health care community so that all women can understand the benefits of mammography screening and other preventive measures in order to receive the proper, lifesaving care that they need.
Blanche L. Lincoln
United States Senator
