The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care now recommends mammograms every three years, no self breast examinations, and no clinical breast exams. They believe these procedures cause too many needless biopsies, mental anguish, and over treatment. This also leads to massive overtreatment of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) which is only life-threatening in 2% of cases. DCIS can be cautiously followed, but unfortunately is overtreated.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force also recommends that women under the age of 50 not have routine mammograms. The American College of Radiology remains adamant that mammograms should begin at age 40. It seems that selecting patients for breast cancer screening should be based in each unique individual situation.
