Position Papers
Mammography
By Cynthia Pearson, NWHN Executive Director
Sometimes the work of women's health activists is easy. We discover that a new procedure or service can help improve women's health; we advocate for all women to have access to it; we do everything we can to ensure that it is provided in a high-quality way; and then we celebrate the gains made. Sometimes it's more complicated, though, and the case of mammography screening for breast cancer is a painful example of a complicated women's health issue.
Raloxifene for Breast Cancer Prevention - An NWHN Analysis
In April 2006, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced preliminary results from STAR, a large clinical trial comparing the effect of raloxifene and tamoxifen on risk of developing breast cancer in postmenopausal women who were considered to be at higher than average risk. The trial was funded by the NCI and Eli Lilly, manufacturer of raloxifene, which is currently marketed under the brand name Evista for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
The Myth of the Baseline Mammogram
See also Mammography
While many things about screening mammograms are uncertain, there's at least one thing that is certain: baseline mammograms shouldn't be recommended as a routine part of health care for women. There is complete agreement about this, even among organizations that disagree on almost every other aspect of mammography.
