U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) said Tuesday’s updated breast cancer guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS) reveal the need for the passage of the PALS Act, bipartisan legislation giving lawmakers and the public time to address conflicting screening recommendations.
Introduced by Ellmers, the PALS Act would establish a two-year freeze on proposed guidance from the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force (USPSTF). In April, the independent advisory arm of the Department of Health and Human Services proposed starting mammogram screenings in women at age 50 and offering them biennially. The USPSTF also recommended stopping mammograms by age 75.
In contrast, the updated ACS guidelines recommend starting yearly mammograms at age 45 and switching to biennial checks at 54. Screenings would continue for as long as a woman is in good health or has a life expectancy of at least 10 years.
“As a nurse, I appreciate the American Cancer Society’s guideline recommendations they released today, as it is a clear indication that women in their 40s do benefit from annual mammograms,” Ellmers said. “However, given the variance in screening recommendations among women’s health groups and cancer organizations, I think it has become increasingly apparent that my current bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3339, the PALS Act, should swiftly move through the House of Representatives in order to eliminate barriers for patients seeking access to early intervention through life-saving screenings.”
Ellmers said a moratorium on adopting the USPSTF breast cancer screening recommendations would help to eliminate confusion for women who are seeking clarification on when and how often they should receive mammograms.
“I will continue working with my colleagues to advocate for the PALS Act so that we can ensure millions of women, young and old, have the resources and tools that they need in order to detect and defeat breast cancer,” Ellmers said.