November E-Letter

JUNCTION MEDICAL NOVEMBER E-LETTER

DECEMBER 5, 2009

Everyone is busy with holiday activities so I’ll keep this news letter brief.

MAMMOGRAPHY  SCREENING -  Quite a bit of controversy regarding the recent revised guidelines from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).  Everyone I have talked to, physicians and patients alike, do not support the less aggressive guidelines.

I don’t believe insurance carriers will drop coverage for screening women between the ages of 40-49, but this is a concern when a well respected and powerful prevention advisory group like the USPSTF makes a recommendation.

Sometimes conclusions based on statistical analysis do not translate into acceptable or  “good medicine”!

I discussed our Junction Medical mammography results in the July e-letter.  It is archived under practice news at www.junctionmedical.com

CERVICAL CANCER  SCREENING -  In contrast to the mammography guidelines, the revised guidelines for Pap test screening has been well  received.  Delaying the initial screening Pap test until age 21 yrs, performing the Pap test every 2 yrs until age 30 and then every 3 yrs until age 60, does not appear to expose women to a higher risk of undetected cervical cancer.  In addition, the latest recommendations support the discontinuation of Pap smears after hysterectomy for non cancerous reasons.

Remember that Pap tests remain the only screening test for cervical cancer, so women should still continue with their gynecological examinations.  These newest recommendations extend the time intervals between the need for testing, - they do not eliminate the need for Pap smears!

Marilyn and I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and we wish all of you and your families a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!

Mike and Marilyn