Handiwork
opinion college should create smoking areas, page 12 sports Senior guard guides basketball, page 26 photo finish Bombers slay Red Dragons, page 32
Alum designs vintage line for Petrune, page 15
Thursday
Dec e m be r 3 , 2 0 0 9
The Ithacan
Online program created to bring faculty together
Cancer
Confusion New recommendations raise questions about early mammograms and other cancer screenings
photo illustration by allison usavage
grams remain unchanged. Amy Delia, senior director of A set of recently issued cancer communications and marketing for screening guidelines for women is the American Cancer Society, said causing controversy among medi- the organization has been fielding cal professionals and politicians concerns from women. “Women have been very vocal and leaving some women confused about the benefits of some early de- about the change to the breast cancer guidelines and are upset by the tection procedures. On Nov. 16, the U.S. Preven- change,” Delia said. “Many women tive Services Task Force released have had their lives saved by a mamguidelines recommending that mogram that caught their cancer women wait until age 50 to begin early, before it spread.” Shawn Galbreath, executive getting regular mammograms, as well as advising “against teaching director of the Cancer Resource breast self-examination.” Previous Center of the Finger Lakes, said guidelines recommended begin- the center has also been hearning mammograms at 40 and per- ing concerns from women in forming regular breast self-exams. the community. “We know a lot of women who Four days later, the American [have] said, ‘If College of ObI hadn’t had a stetricians and mammogram Gynecologists before age released new 50, I might guidelines statnot be here ing cervical right now,’” cancer screenshe said. ings should Amy delia The USPbegin at 21, found regardless of american cancer society STF that the sexual activproblems ity, and only be done every two years between the associated with breast cancer ages of 21 and 29. Previous guide- screenings — such as anxiety, lines advised women to have a cer- additional medical visits and bivical cancer screening three years opsies in women without cancer after becoming sexually active, re- — outweighed the small number gardless of age. Both independent of actual cases of cancer detected panels have come under scrutiny by the early mammograms. The for their findings — especially the USPSTF found that one death is USPSTF, after the American Can- prevented for every 1,904 women cer Society and Kathleen Sebelius, ages 40 to 49 who are screened for the secretary of health and human 10 years. Galbreath said the USPSTF services in the Obama administration, released statements saying may have cited specific numbers their policies regarding mammo- but failed to do the math on the
By Lindsey Hollenbaugh Editor In Chief
“Women have been very vocal about the change to the breast cancer guidelines ...”
I t h a c a , N . Y.
Volum e 7 7 , I s s u e 1 3
the dangers of detection?
Dr. Erin Halllives saved. Rhoades, assistant “That’s like 12,000 medical director of women,” she said. the Hammond Health “Those are 12,000 According to the “Screenwomen under the ing for Breast Cancer” rec- Center, said it is important to remember age of 50. These are ommendation statement, in all of this confusion women who have problems resulting from that these panels are families, teenagers breast cancer screening not part of “big governor young children. include: ment organizations” or They have careers. -psychological harms -unnecessary imaging politically motivated. These are people tests “It really is not whose lives are -biopsies in women someone trying to just as important without cancer prevent someone from as anybody else’s -inconvenience because of false-positive screengetting screened apto be saving.” propriately,” she said. Many critics of ing results -overdiagnosis “It is much more about the recommenda-radiologic tests looking at the evidence tions think the way the guidelines were For a complete summary and making sure we are doing what is right presented is not of the report, visit the for the patients.” only confusing but U.S. Preventive Services The USPSTF’s also may affect the Task Force Web site at recommendations , way insurance com- www.ahrq.gov. however, do not apply panies will pay for screenings. Galbreath said there is to women with a family history of some concern that it will be more breast cancer. The guidelines state difficult to get a mammogram, re- that women with a high risk of quiring prior approval or making getting cancer should consult with their doctors about screenings. doctors “jump through hoops.” Senior Laura Thornton, coDon Beachler, associate professor of politics at Ithaca College, said chair of Colleges Against Cancer these concerns are just a “fear tactic.” at the college, said the recomHe said 49 out of the 50 states man- mendations have made her think date insurance companies cover about her family history. Her greatroutine mammograms and that no grandmother passed away from breast cancer, her grandmother one is looking to change the laws. He said conservatives are using was a breast cancer survivor and the recommendations as a negative her mother has undergone testing example of what government-con- for “suspicious” cancer screenings. “I don’t see why prevention trolled health care would look like. “One of the arguments of should be avoided,” she said. “I’ll get conservatives against any kind of a mammogram as soon as possible.” As for breast self-exams, which health care reform is that it will lead to rationing, which is the de- the USPSTF recommended doctors nial of care on some basis that it’s not effective,” he said. See exams, page 4
find more. online. www.theithacan.org
By Leah Tedesco assistant News Editor
The Ithaca Faculty Commons, a program to be implemented by the end of the academic year, will connect faculty members with each other by sharing resources online. Susanne Morgan, associate professor of sociology and half-time coordinator of faculty development activities, said the Ithaca Faculty Commons is a model for faculty development at Ithaca College through linking online and with face-to-face conversations. Morgan Morgan said said she was asked the Faculty Commons will link to create the model faculty members. two years ago by Kathleen Rountree, provost and vice president of academic affairs, because there was additional need for guaranteed faculty resources. Morgan said the Faculty Commons was created to give faculty more support with their research and learning. “We want there to be more communication, more linking and more exchange [among faculty],” she said. “The Faculty Commons would be a place to find out what is going on.” Morgan said her two-year deadline to explore and develop a resource center for faculty has led her to plan a program that will include both a face-to-face and online environment that will be part of the myHome structure the college has developed. The first meeting of the implementation phase of the Ithaca Faculty Commons will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in the DeMotte Room. The meeting is open to all faculty members. Morgan said there are three elements that will be discussed at the meeting: the organizational structure, online structure and event planning for the spring semester. Morgan said she needs faculty members to help form the organizational and online structure by the end of the academic year. “We will need a group of people to help nurture it and who make decisions, how to best move forward, to think about where the resources are and how to maximize those resources,” she said. Some of the events already planned for the Faculty Commons will include a faculty workshop that will blend virtual and panel interactions with Carlos Cortes, scholar on diversity in higher education and in the media. A two-day May Faculty Institute program, which Morgan said is designed to be consistent with institutional goals, is also planned.
See agenda, page 4