LOS ANGELES (May 11, 2023) —
WHAT:
Cedars-Sinai Cancer physician-scientists are available for interviews to discuss the US Preventive Services Task Force’s new draft recommendation that women at average risk of breast cancer should have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 age.
The recommendation is a revision of the 2009 ruling that stated that routine mammograms should begin at age 50. The task force advises women in their 40s to talk to their doctor about starting earlier, based on their personal risk of disease.
The change in recommendation comes as breast cancer diagnoses are increasing among women under 50. Also, black women die from breast cancer at a higher rate than white women, and earlier screening could help address that disparity, experts say.
WHO:
Yuan Yuan, MD, PhD, is director of the breast medical oncology and breast cancer research group at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, and recommends annual screening for patients. Yuan specializes in triple-negative breast cancer, a fast-growing and often aggressive form of the disease, as well as breast cancer immunotherapy. In addition to discussing the latest mammogram screening recommendations, Yuan can talk about breast cancer risk factors, types of disease, and treatment options.
Farin Amersi, MD, is Clinical Chief of Surgical Oncology and Associate Professor of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Cancer. Amersey can discuss recent research that found annual follow-up mammography is sufficient for patients with invasive breast cancer who have received chemotherapy followed by breast-sparing tumor removal. She is also available to discuss the latest innovations in surgical oncology and reconstruction.
Jeannie Shen, MD, is director of the breast program at Huntington Hospital, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate, and a fellowship-trained thoracic surgeon. Shen can speak to issues of health equity in cancer treatment, especially regarding the statistics showing that black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Shen is available for interviews in English and Mandarin.
WHERE:
Cedars-Sinai can support virtual interview formats via Zoom, FaceTime and Skype.