Komen’s Luray to House Committee: No Impediments to Mammography

Komen Advocacy Alliance President Urges Increased Access; Discovery of Better Tools

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 2, 2009 – New mammography recommendations have created confusion that should serve as a national wake-up call to improve breast cancer screening technology, the head of the Susan G. Komen for the Cureâ Advocacy Alliance, the nation’s largest breast cancer advocacy organization, told Congress today.

“Since the announcement of the new guidelines, our offices have been inundated with calls from women, expressing concern that this change could create impediments to mammography,” said Jennifer Luray, testifying at a special hearing by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce.  “We are concerned that this confusion may drive some women away from screening, which we know was not the Task Force’s intent.”

On Nov. 15, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed its recommendations for routine mammograms for women 40 to 49.  Luray called on Congress to ensure that any woman in her 40s and 50s that wants a mammogram can get one.

Luray noted that Susan G. Komen for the Cure is not changing its recommendations for mammography screening.  The organization will continue to recommend annual mammograms for women of average risk beginning at age 40. 

“We have known for some time that mammography is an imperfect tool,” said Luray.  “We need to work together — government, private industry, the public health community and patient advocates — to develop and deliver technology that is more predictive, available and personalized, but less expensive.”

“However, at this time mammography is still our best tool for early detection and successful treatment of this disease. As such, we need to focus our attention on increasing access to screening.  Currently one-third of women are not being screened due to a lack of access, education and awareness.” 

Luray shared her hope that “these past few weeks will result in women taking more interest in their breast health and that all of us will see this as a call to action to do better…so that no one’s mom, or sister or daughter dies from a breast cancer that could have, should have, been detected early, but wasn’t.”

 Click here to read Luray’s entire testimony as prepared for delivery.

 Click here to read an extended version as submitted for the record.