NCCN Guideline Update, New Research
NCCN Guidelines, Version 3.2023
The most recent National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis guidelines are out (accessible with free registration). The “Screening or Symptom Category” guidance on screening average-risk women aged 40+ with dense breasts states, “Consider supplemental screening for those with heterogeneous or extremely dense breasts (BSCR-A)” The BSCR-A excerpt is below for these individuals and high-risk individuals.
Research
Out in JAMANetwork Open, results of a telephone survey in Sociodemographic Variations in Women’s Reports of Discussions With Clinicians About Breast Density. Only 33% of women reported having had a discussion with their provider about breast density. The good news is that of those surveyed, most women indicated their providers asked questions about breast cancer risk, discussed mammography results, and answered questions about breast density. The content of these discussions varied by race/ethnicity and literacy level, with questions about breast density less often addressed in Asian or Hispanic women, and concerns less often addressed among women of lower literacy.
As a reminder, to assist patient education in non-English speakers, DBI has developed: