[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 220 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 220

     Expressing the sense of the Congress on the need for accurate 
      guidelines for breast cancer screening for women ages 40-49.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 1994

    Ms. Snowe (for herself and Mr. Schiff) submitted the following 
 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
                              and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the Congress on the need for accurate 
      guidelines for breast cancer screening for women ages 40-49.

Whereas the National Cancer Institute is the lead Federal agency for research on 
        the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer;
Whereas health professionals and consumers throughout the Nation regard their 
        guidelines as reliable scientific and medical advice;
Whereas it has been proven that intervention with routine screening for breast 
        cancer with mammography can save women's lives at a time when we are 
        unable to prevent this disease;
Whereas there are limitations to evaluating the efficacy of mammography in a 5-
        10 year age range of women in existing studies designed to test 
        mortality reduction from breast cancer in a 25-30 year age range;
Whereas there were numerous shortcomings in a Canadian study designed to address 
        mortality reduction from breast cancer in the 40-49 age range;
Whereas to date, it is not possible to have the same degree of scientific 
        confidence about the benefit of mammography for women ages 40-49 as 
        exists for women ages 50-69 due to inherent limitations in the studies 
        that have been conducted;
Whereas meta-analysis (combining the results of several studies) is sometimes 
        useful, the studies used to reach the National Cancer Institute's 
        conclusions were not easily combined because of variations in design, 
        technology, screening interval, the inclusion or exclusion of clinical 
        breast examination and quality;
Whereas the existing clinical trial data are inadequate to provide a definite 
        answer to the efficacy of early detection in the 40-49 age group and 
        there has been a dramatic change in technology during the 30-year period 
        since the initiation of the first study of breast cancer screening;
Whereas approximately 80 percent of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer 
        have ``no'' identifiable risk for this disease;
Whereas breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in the 
        age group 15-54;
Whereas the American Cancer Society and 21 other national medical organizations, 
        health and consumer groups are at variance with the recently rescinded 
        guideline of the National Cancer Institute for mammography for women 
        ages 40-49; and
Whereas the statement on breast cancer screening issued by the National Cancer 
        Institute on December 3, 1993, will cause widespread confusion and 
        concern among women and physicians, erode confidence in mammography and 
        reinforce barriers and negative attitudes that keep women of all ages 
        from being screened: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) adequately designed and conducted studies are needed to 
        determine the benefit of screening women ages 40-49 through 
        mammography and other emerging technologies;
            (2) the National Cancer Institute's guidelines on breast 
        cancer screening should clearly state that the uncertainty of 
        evidence for women in this age group is due to the limitations 
        of existing studies; and
            (3) the National Cancer Institute should rescind its recent 
        statement for mammography screening of women ages 40-49, and 
        continue to issue guidelines when clear evidence warrants a 
        change.

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