AMA Policies on Breast Cancer

H-55.993 Early Detection of Breast Cancer

(1) The AMA supports public education efforts to help women recognize their important role in breast self-examination and to encourage them to report immediately to their physicians any changes that they notice.
(2) The AMA encourages physicians to educate their patients in the process of breast cancer detection, emphasizing the technique of self-examination of their breasts.
(3) Physicians requesting mammographic examinations should refer their patients to radiologists who use properly functioning equipment that provides the best image resolution at the lowest level of radiation exposure (less than one rad to mid breast for two views of both breasts).
(4) Physicians are encouraged to recognize the importance of mammography as an effective screening device to detect early breast cancer.
(5)The AMA encourages pharmaceutical companies to include in the packaging of their contraceptives, and all female hygiene products, materials which promote the package and correct techniques of breast self-examination, and which stress the importance of physician breast examinations and appropriate use of screening mammography. (CSA Rep. A, I-83; Reaffirmed: CLRPD Rep. I-93-1; Res. 501, I-95)

H-525.993 Mammography Screening in Asymptomatic Women Forty Years and Older

Our AMA: (1) strongly endorses the positions of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Radiology that all women have screening mammography as per current guidelines.
(2) Our AMA favors participation in and support of the efforts of the (2professional, voluntary, and government organizations to educate physicians and the public regarding the value of screening mammography in reducing breast cancer mortality.
(3) Our AMA advocates remaining alert to new epidemiological findings regarding age-specific breast cancer mortality reduction following mammography screening.
(4) Based on recent summary data our AMA recommends annual screening mammograms and continuation of clinical breast examinations in asymptomatic women 40 years and older.
(5) Our AMA encourages the periodic reconsideration of these recommendations as more epidemiological data become available
(6) Our AMA supports seeking common recommendations with other organizations.
(7) Our AMA reiterates its longstanding position that all medical care decisions should occur only after thoughtful deliberation between patients and physicians. (CSA Rep. F, A-88; Reaffirmed: Res. 506, A-94; Amended: CSA Rep. 16, A-99; Appended: Res. 120, A-02)

H-55.997 Refusal of Third Party Payors to Pay for Reconstructive Surgery of the Breast to Correct Deformities

Our AMA believes that reconstruction of the breast for rehabilitation of the postmastectomy cancer patient should be considered reconstructive surgery rather than aesthetic surgery. (Sub. Res. 174, A-79; Reaffirmed: CLRPD Rep. B, I-89; Reaffirmed: Sunset Report, A-00)

H-55.984 Screening and Treatment for Breast and Cervical Cancer

The AMA: (1) supports increased funding for comprehensive programs to screen low income women for breast and cervical cancer and to assure access to definitive treatment; and (2) encourages state and local medical societies to monitor local public health screening programs to assure that they are linked to treatment resources in the public or private sector. (Res. 411, A-92)

H-55.985 Screening and Education Programs for Breast and Cervical Cancer Risk Reduction

Our AMA supports (1) programs to screen all women for breast and cervical cancer and that government funded programs be available for low income women and (2) the development of public information and educational programs with the goal of informing all women about routine cancer screening in order to reduce their risk of dying from cancer. (Res. 418, I-91; Reaffirmed: Sunset Report, I-01)

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