[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 8 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 8

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            February 16 (legislative day, January 30), 1995

  Ms. Snowe submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
         referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


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

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 the 
        guidelines of the National Cancer Institute as reliable scientific and 
        medical advice;
Whereas it has been proven that intervention with routine screening for breast 
        cancer through mammography can save women's lives at a time when medical 
        science is unable to prevent this disease;
Whereas there are statistical limitations to evaluating the efficacy of 
        mammography in a 5-10 year age range of women, using existing studies 
        designed to test the efficacy of mammography in a 25-30 year age range 
        of women;
Whereas there were numerous shortcomings identified in a Canadian study designed 
        to address reduction of mortality 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, and 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 the majority, 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 
        and 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 of scientific fact 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 Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the sense of 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 statement of scientific 
        fact 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 (as of the date of issuance 
        of the statement); and
            (3) the National Cancer Institute should reissue the 
        recently rescinded guideline for mammography for women ages 40-
        49 or direct the public to consider guidelines issued by other 
        organizations.
                                 <all>