Knoxville radiologist critical of new recommendations on mammograms

Knoxville radiologist critical of new recommendations on mammograms

By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A Knoxville radiologist is critical of the new recommendations on mammograms by an independent task force.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force claims women under 50 don't need mammograms.

The new guidelines have many wondering if their insurance company will still cover breast exams for younger women.

Dr. Kathleen Hudson is the medical director of the Breast Center at UT Medical Center.

She says this new study is like throwing out decades of published research. "It had nothing to do with saving lives. They were not concerned about that. They were concerned with saving money."

Dr. Hudson says the new recommendations are disturbing and she worries insurance companies will use them as an excuse to cover fewer breast cancer screenings.

"Early breast cancer has no symptoms," she explains. "You can not feel it. It causes no change. It is not painful."

Dr. Hudson is also critical about the study's research. "They did not have anybody on their panel who were experts in the diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer. They did not ask for any public input and their literature search was not subject to peer review."

6 News also spoke with Humana, one of the largest local insurance providers.

Spokeswoman Jennifer Burke says these recommendations won't change how Humana operates, at least for now.

"We're not changing anything in the foreseeable future. This is going to have to be discussed in the physician community. A lot of research is going to have to go into it before we're going to make any kind of drastic decision on coverage," Burke says.

Humana currently abides by the American College of Oncology recommendations that mammograms should begin at 40 and be based on doctor recommendations.