WICHITA, Kansas – For the second time in a week, medical experts are challenging conventional wisdom, telling women to get fewer screenings based on new science.
Earlier this week a controversial recommendation came regarding mammograms when a government panel said women don’t need them until they’re 50.
"I was irate, because I am alive because of a mammogram I took at the age of 40,’ said DeAnn Baar, a breast cancer survivor.Now the College of Ob/Gyns says annual pap smears are no longer necessary for most women."I'd say it's very confusing to know which recommendations you're supposed to follow, who you're supposed to listen to, which studies are the one's we're gonna follow with our care,” said local resident Kristen Hauserman.The new advice regarding the cervical cancer test, however, is far less controversial than the one regarding mammograms. The new recommendations are that women under 21 don’t need them at all, women in their 20’s can get them every other year and women over 30 with a history of normal pap smears can be screened every three years and stop when they’re 65 or 70."Think the guidelines themselves are certainly reasonable, cervical cancer in young women is very unusual,” said Dr. Tan Goering, KSN medical editor.And experts say because cervical cancer develops slowly, skipping screenings won’t make a difference.Still, doctors want patients to be clear that this doesn’t mean an end to those yearly exams."Because we still do lots of other things at their yearly check-ups,” said Dr. Goering. “We look for other things other than just cervical cancer."But in the wake of a week’s worth of confusing medical advice, the best prescription for women’s health will likely come from the same place it always has – your personal physician."That's the only way which I can truly know what the best recommendations are,” Hauserman said.The American Cancer Society, which opposed the mammogram recommendation, supports this one on pap smears.
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