VOA标准英语2009年-Breast, Cervical Cancer Guidelines Cal

 

Medical panels extend age-related guidelines for mammograms and Pap test

Melinda Smith | Washington, DC 01 December 2009

 
Woman taking mammogram test

"This study is absolutely ludicrous. They need to start getting mammograms at age 40. Mammograms pick up cancers when they're smaller," said Dr. Sharon Rosenbaum Smith with St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital.

For years, American women have depended on medical guidelines that call for yearly exams for breast and cervical cancer.  But recently, two panels of experts changed the recommendations when women should first undergo these screenings, and whether they are needed every year.  Now some doctors are asking if these changes are just the beginning of rationed¹ health care for all.

For decades, American women considered mammograms part of their yearly physical exam.  Now one medical panel has upset that routine, and many doctors are angry. 

"I'm saying very powerfully ignore them, because unequivocally, and they agreed with this, this will increase the number of women dying of breast cancer," said Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former director of the National Institutes of Health.

Women in their 40's are now being told they can delay their first mammogram until age 50, and after 50, they can postpone² that screening until every other year.

"This study is absolutely ludicrous.  They need to start getting mammograms at age 40.  Mammograms pick up cancers when they're smaller," said Dr. Sharon Rosenbaum Smith with St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says it issued the relaxed guidelines for breast cancer screening because of fears of unnecessary radiation, painful biopsies and needless testing.

Breast cancer researcher Susan Love is just as outspoken³ in defense⁴ of the new guidelines. "The issue is not depriving young women of their God-given right to be radiated.  It's really, let's not give them radiation if it's not really helping⁵ them," she said.

Shortly after the new guidelines were released, there were some reports of women canceling mammograms and even cancer surgery because of the news.  

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius advised patients to stay calm. "Do what you've always done.  Talk to your doctor.  Figure out your own health situation with your doctor, your family history.  Those are the really important ingredients," she said.

To add to the confusion, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists changed its recommendations for the first cervical cancer screening for young women.  These women can now delay their first test, known as the Pap Smear⁶, until age 21.
 
The previous guideline called for this test at the age of 18, or at the start of earlier sexual activity. 

According to the new recommendations, older women in their 30's and beyond can be screened every three years unless tests reveal an abnormality.

Dr. Robert Smith of the American Cancer Society says these are sensible guidelines. "We can actually observe the precursor⁷ 'lesions' associated with cervical cancer for a period of 10 to 20 years.  They're very, very slow growing," she said.

The timing⁸ of the new recommendations for cervical and breast cancer screenings has upset doctors, like radiologist Peter Jokich of Rush University Medical Center, who say it is all linked to the congressional debate on health care reform. "It's about the beginning of rationing⁹ care.  And I don't think it's about the health of the individual woman," he said.

 

1 rationed   

限量供应，配给供应( ration的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• We were rationed to two eggs a day. 每天配给我们两个鸡蛋。
• The army is well rationed. 部队给养良好。

2 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

3 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 smear   

v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• He has been spreading false stories in an attempt to smear us.他一直在散布谎言企图诽谤我们。
• There's a smear on your shirt.你衬衫上有个污点。

7 precursor   

n.先驱者；前辈；前任；预兆；先兆

参考例句：

• Error is often the precursor of what is correct.错误常常是正确的先导。
• He said that the deal should not be seen as a precursor to a merger.他说该笔交易不应该被看作是合并的前兆。

8 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

9 rationing   

n.定量供应

参考例句：

• Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺。
• Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。