BREAST-CANCER DETECTION GUIDELINES FOR WOMEN AGED 40 TO 49 YEARS - RATIONALE FOR THE AMERICAN-CANCER-SOCIETY REAFFIRMATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Over the past year, the National Cancer Institute has altered its guid elines for early breast cancer screening by omitting any recommendatio n for mammography and clinical breast examination for women aged 40 to 49 years, while the American Cancer Society has reaffirmed its recomm endation for these screening procedures in this age group. This articl e reviews the process and some of the evidence the American Cancer Soc iety has relied upon in reaffirming its recommended guidelines for ear ly breast cancer detection.