Breast cancer
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- Published on Sunday, 03 February 2019 13:04
- Written by editor
PAOV — 4,000 Canadian women will die over the next decade if the new breast cancer screening guidelines are not revised. Introduced in December 2018, the new guidelines do not address the importance of mammograms for women in their 40s and the benefits of early detection. Over 100 breast cancer experts have strongly criticized the new guidelines and this petition is calling for them to be revised before putting thousands of women’s lives at risk. You can help by adding your name.
Petitioning This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , The Honourable Ginette Petitpas-Taylor, The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
Demand that the Health Minister reject dangerous breast cancer screening guidelines that will cost lives
Petition by Dense Breasts Canada
Canada
14,104
Supporters
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4,000 Canadian women will die over the next decade if the new breast cancer screening guidelines are not revised.In December 2018, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care issued guidelines on breast cancer screening for women of average risk. These guidelines do not address the importance of mammograms for women 40-49, the many benefits of early detection, and the risks associated with dense breasts. Here’s how the guidelines put women’s lives at risk:
1. The guidelines ignore expert advice: There are no breast cancer experts on the Task Force. They consulted experts, but ignored their input. At this point, over 130 breast cancer experts have strongly criticized the guidelines.
2. The guidelines ignore the importance of screening for women in their 40s: Breast cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in women. One sixth of these deaths and 24% of the years lost to breast cancer are from cancers that arise when women are in their 40s. Even with statistics like these, the Task Force does not recommend screening for women in their 40s. As a result, 4,000 Canadian women will die over the next decade if this recommendation is followed.
3. The guidelines advise against breast self-exams: These exams are an important measure women can take to increase early detection of breast cancer, especially in women with dense breasts.
4. The guidelines exaggerate the harms of recalling women for additional testing after a mammogram: About 10% of women are recalled for additional images and this may cause anxiety. The Task Force considers this anxiety a harm and uses it to dissuade women from screening. The anxiety is not long lasting. Better safe than sorry.
5. The guidelines ignore significant health benefits of early cancer detection: The Task Force does not acknowledge the benefits of avoiding chemotherapy, avoiding mastectomy and avoiding lymphedema.
6. The guidelines ignore current data: The Task Force relies on outdated and flawed studies. The obsolete studies estimate that women are 15-20% less likely to die if they have breast screening. Current studies show that women who have mammograms are actually 40-44% less likely to die of breast cancer than those who do not.
7. The guidelines ignore the risks of breast density: The risks of dense breasts have been known for 40 years. Dense breasts increase the risk of developing breast cancer and increase the risk that cancer will be masked on a mammogram. The guidelines ignore the benefits of supplemental screening for women with dense breasts.
8. Women are being asked to make decisions about life-saving screening based on inaccurate information: Using the new guidelines women may make decisions that may ultimately lead to a late diagnosis, unnecessary suffering and a poorer prognosis.
All Canadians should be outraged by these guidelines. Canadian women and their family doctors deserve to have accurate information about the benefits of screening.
Please sign and share this petition. Tell Health Minister Petitpas-Taylor that the new screening guidelines for breast cancer must be rejected because they are dangerous and will cause loss of life.
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