The United States Preventive Services Task Force's analysis of women receiving mammograms is confusing because some organizations and physicians are refuting the task force recommendations.

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Carla Williams is Alaska field coordinator for the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

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However, the statistical facts are, and have been for years, that mammograms for younger women and self breast exams for all women are sometimes unreliable and can give women a false sense of security.

The reason mammograms are unreliable is that younger women often have dense breasts that mask lumps.

Regarding self-detection, women are typically not trained well enough to perform a method of breast exam that can reliably detect suspicious areas that need further testing. However, women should examine their breasts on a regular basis to detect changes and report changes to a medical professional, whether those changes are discoloring, thickening, skin appearance change, discharge, pain, lumps, etc.

The task force's public message should have included that women see a trained professional for a yearly breast exam, and she and the professional should determine the best preventative service for her. A yearly breast exam by a qualified medical professional, perhaps including a mammogram, increases the probability of early detection.

Nineteen years ago, at 36, a physician discovered a lump in my breast. I received a mammogram that indicated no suspicious areas. Because of the mammogram results and my younger age, the physician made the mistake of telling me it was probably nothing and to get it checked at my convenience at a later date.

I now know that ANY lump needs immediate investigation until it is determined the lump is not cancer. My lump was cancer, but I survived by checking sooner rather than later.

There are thousands of such stories, stories about women discovering their own breast cancer lumps through the examination of their own breasts and stories of women who are grateful for mammograms detecting minute cancers and saving their lives. However, we should not discount evidence-based scientific research. It is this type of research that will ultimately provide us with information to become a more informed society and consumer.

Mammograms for younger women are not as reliable as we would all like, yet early detection is critical. See your health professional for a yearly breast exam and, if a mammogram is ordered, realize that the mammogram is often an unreliable screening tool for women with dense breasts. Hopefully, screening tools will increase over time, and we will someday have more reliable tools.

Carla Williams is Alaska field coordinator for the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

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