[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 40 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 40

  Expressing the sense of the House concerning the need for accurate 
guidelines for breast cancer screening for women between the ages of 40 
                                and 49.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 5, 1997

Mr. Towns submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House concerning the need for accurate 
guidelines for breast cancer screening for women between the ages of 40 
                                and 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 United States regard 
        the guidelines of the National Cancer Institute as reliable scientific 
        and medical advice;
Whereas it has been proven that intervention through routine screening for 
        breast cancer through mammography can save the lives of women at a time 
        when medical science is unable to prevent this disease;
Whereas the National Cancer Institute issued a guideline in 1989 recommending 
        that women in their forties seek mammograms, but rescinded this 
        guideline in 1993;
Whereas in 1993, it was difficult to have the same degree of scientific 
        confidence about the benefit of mammography for women between the ages 
        of 40 and 49 as existed for women between the ages of 50 and 69 due to 
        inherent limitations in the studies that were conducted as of that date;
Whereas at that time, the American Cancer Society and 21 other national medical 
        organizations and health and consumer groups were at variance with the 
        decision of the National Cancer Institute to rescind the guidelines of 
        the Institute for mammography for women between the ages of 40 and 49;
Whereas the statement of scientific fact on breast cancer screening issued by 
        the National Cancer Institute on December 3, 1993, caused widespread 
        confusion and concern among women and physicians, eroded confidence in 
        mammography, and reinforced barriers and negative attitudes that keep 
        women of all ages from being screened;
Whereas in 1995, investigators found a 24 percent lower death rate among women 
        who received mammograms in their forties when the world's population-
        based trials were combined;
Whereas in 1996, Swedish researchers in 2 studies found a 44 and 36 percent 
        lower death rate among women who received mammograms in their forties;
Whereas a number of studies have shown that breast tumors in women under the age 
        of 50 may grow far more rapidly than in older women, suggesting that 
        annual mammograms are of value to women in this age group;
Whereas a disproportionate number of African-American women are affected by this 
        life-threatening disease, and have a 25 percent higher mortality rate 
        than other women because breast cancer is not detected early enough;
Whereas on January 23, 1997, a panel convened by the National Institutes of 
        Health reviewed these and other compelling studies but decided not to 
        recommend that the National Cancer Institute reissue its earlier 
        guidelines;
Whereas the Director of the National Cancer Institute and other major national 
        organizations, including the American Cancer Society, expressed surprise 
        and disappointment with this decision;
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 single leading cause of death for women in their 
        forties and fifties, and a leading cause of death for women between the 
        ages of 30 and 60; and
Whereas more women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in their 
        forties (over 33,000 women) than in their fifties: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House that--
            (1) adequately designed and conducted studies are needed to 
        further determine the benefits of screening women between the 
        ages of 40 and 49 through mammography and other emerging 
        technologies; and
            (2)(A) the House strongly urges the Advisory Panel for the 
        National Cancer Institute to consider reissuing the guideline 
        rescinded in 1993 for mammography for women between the ages of 
        40 and 49 when it convenes in February; or
            (B) until there is more definitive data, direct the public 
        to consider guidelines issued by other organizations.
                                 <all>