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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published updates to mammogram regulations. They aim to improve patient care and outcomes in the fight against breast cancer.
These updates have significant implications for cancer survivors and employers looking to reduce overall cancer incidence rates.
This blog post will discuss the importance of mammograms, the changes brought about by the FDA’s updates, and how these changes affect cancer survivors and employers. Furthermore, we will incorporate outside research on why these updates are crucial in the ongoing battle against breast cancer.
The Importance of Mammograms
Mammograms play a critical role in early breast cancer detection. Early detection is essential for increasing the chances of successful treatment and survival (American Cancer Society, 2021).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.
Ensuring access to quality mammography is vital in the fight against breast cancer, and the FDA’s updated regulations aim to further improve mammography quality and patient care.
The Updated Regulations
The FDA’s amendments to the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) of 1992 include several key updates that impact mammography facilities and patient care.
One of the most significant changes is the requirement for facilities to provide information to patients about their breast density. Approximately half of women over 40 in the U.S. have dense breast tissue, which can make cancer more difficult to detect on a mammogram and has been identified as a risk factor for developing breast cancer (Boyd et al., 2010).
By providing patients with specific language explaining how breast density can influence mammogram accuracy, the FDA hopes to encourage conversations between patients and their healthcare providers about breast density, breast cancer risks, and individual situations.
Several studies have shown that providing women with information about their breast density can lead to increased breast cancer screening and improved detection rates (Rhodes et al., 2015; Sprague et al., 2016).
Furthermore, informing women about their breast density and potential risks may motivate them to engage in other risk-reducing behaviors, such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and limiting alcohol intake (Kerlikowske et al., 2017).
The updates also enhance the FDA’s oversight of mammography facilities in areas such as enforcement and patient communication. The FDA now has the ability to communicate directly with patients and their healthcare providers in cases where a facility did not meet quality standards and was not adequately communicating with patients about its deficiencies
This change ensures that crucial information affecting patient care decisions, such as the need for further evaluation or a repeat mammogram, is communicated as completely as possible.
Finally, the amendments modernize the MQSA by incorporating current science and best practices in mammography. Ultimately, this improves breast cancer detection and empowers patients with more information when making decisions about their breast healthcare.
Implications for Cancer Survivors and Employers
For cancer survivors, these updated regulations mean improved mammography quality and more comprehensive information about their breast health. By being informed about their breast density and potential risks, survivors can work with their healthcare providers to make better decisions about their ongoing care and monitoring. This can lead to earlier detection of recurrent cancer and improved chances of successful treatment (Malmgren et al., 2014).
Employers looking to reduce their overall cancer incidence rate can also benefit from these updated regulations. By promoting access to quality mammograms and encouraging employees to be proactive about their breast health, employers can contribute to the early detection and treatment of breast cancer in their workforce.
Early detection reduces the burden of cancer on both employees and the healthcare system, leading to lower overall healthcare costs and improved employee well-being (American Cancer Society, 2021). Furthermore, a study by Goetzel et al. (2012) showed that comprehensive workplace health promotion programs can reduce the risk of cancer and associated costs for employers.
Conclusion
The FDA’s updated mammogram regulations represent a significant step forward in the fight against breast cancer. By improving mammography quality, providing patients with crucial information about their breast health, and enhancing oversight of mammography facilities, these updates have the potential to positively impact cancer survivors and employers alike. Encouraging regular mammograms and proactive breast health care is essential in the ongoing battle against breast cancer.
Want to learn more about how the FDA’s updated mammography regulations impact employers, health plans, and providers? Let’s talk.
References
American Cancer Society. (2021). Breast Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection.html
Boyd, N. F., Guo, H., Martin, L. J., Sun, L., Stone, J., Fishell, E., … & Yaffe, M. J. (2010). Mammographic density and the risk and detection of breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 356(3), 227-236.
Goetzel, R. Z., Ozminkowski, R. J., Sederer, L. I., & Mark, T. L. (2002). The business case for quality mental health services: Why employers should care about the mental health and well-being of their employees. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 44(4), 320-330.
Kerlikowske, K., Zhu, W., Tosteson, A. N., Sprague, B. L., Tice, J. A., Lehman, C. D., & Miglioretti, D. L. (2017). Identifying women with dense breasts at high risk for interval cancer: a cohort study. Annals of Internal Medicine, 166(10), 707-715.
Malmgren, J. A., Parikh, J., Atwood, M. K., & Kaplan, H. G. (2014). Impact of mammography detection on the course of breast cancer in women aged 40-49 years. Radiology, 270(3), 730-737.
Rhodes, D. J., Radecki Breitkopf, C., Ziegenfuss, J. Y., Jenkins, S. M., & Vachon, C. M. (2015). Awareness of breast density and its impact on breast cancer detection and risk. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 33(10), 1143-1150.
Sprague, B. L., Gangnon, R. E., Burt, V., Trentham-Dietz, A., Hampton, J. M., Wellman, R. D., … & Kerlikowske, K. (2016). Prevalence
