3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd

Portland, OR 97239
(503) 494-8311
www.ohsu.edu

CONTACT:
Vania Ahmad, Media Spokesperson
503-680-4982
vaniaa@uoregon.edu
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is hosting a news conference
regarding the American Cancer Societys (ACS) recently revised
recommendations for cancer screening. The new guidelines affect how all
patients should get screened for cancer. At the conference, three of OHSUs
cancer specialists will serve as an expert panel.
WHO:

The events expert panel consists of three OHSU medical

professionals who specialize in various types of cancer:
Kathleen Kemmer, MD; Katharine L. Barford, MD; and Joshi
Alumkal, MD. Dr. Kemmer is a specialist in solid tumor
oncology, breast cancer, as well as head and neck cancer. Dr.
Barford is a specialist in breast cancer, uterine cancer,
ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and blood diseases. Dr.
Alumkal is a specialist in prostate cancer.

WHAT:

News conference featuring panel of three of OHSUs cancer

specialists to discuss ACSs new guidelines for cancer
screening. The new guidelines change the way people are
screened for cancer.

WHEN:

Thursday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m

WHER
E:

Oregon Convention Center

777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Portland, OR 97232

WHY:

To educate people about research and recommendations for

cancer screening.

To learn more about cancer screening services, visit www.ohsu.edu/cancer.

To schedule an interview, contact Vania Ahmad at 503-680-4982.

3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd

Portland, OR 97239
(503) 494-8311
www.ohsu.edu

FACT SHEET

The Pap and HPV (human papilloma virus) tests are the two tests
currently used to screen for cervical cancer.

Previously, the American Cancer Society (ACS) advised women to have

a Pap test done annually; however, new research suggests that
cervical cancer takes 10 to 20 years to develop, so annual testing is
excessive.

The ACS now recommends the following regarding screening for

cervical cancer:
o Women ages 21 to 29 should have a Pap test every three years.
o Women ages 30 to 65 should get both a Pap and HPV test every
five years.
o No screening for women over 65 and/or women who have had a
hysterectomy (uterus and cervix removal procedure).

For breast cancer screening, ACS now has the following guidelines:
o Women ages 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
o Women over the age of 55 should either get mammograms every
two years or continue annual screening.

The following is the ACSs previous guidelines for breast cancer:

o Women ages 20 and over should do breast self-exams
o Women ages 20 to 39 should get a clinical breast exam every
three years
o Women ages 40 and over should get a clinical breast exam and
mammogram every year

ACS has the following guideline for prostate cancer screening:

o Men over the age of 50 (or 45 for African American men or men
who have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age
65) should talk to their doctors about to see if testing is right for
them.

3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd

Portland, OR 97239
(503) 494-8311
www.ohsu.edu

To: Cara Roberts Murez

Subject: OHSUs Panel of Cancer Specialists To Discuss
New Screening Guidelines
Hello Cara,
I read and appreciated your article Survivors share courage, hope about
Susan G. Komen in the Register-Guard. The way you presented Gwynn
Sawyer Ostroms and April Benhoffs story is compelling, but you also
included important information about Komens services, including cancer
screening.
Recently, the American Cancer Society (ACS) released new guidelines
regarding screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer.
Based on your interest in cancer screening, I believe that this story will
interest you.
To educate the public about the ACSs new screening recommendations, the
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is hosting a news conference at
the Oregon Convention Center on Nov. 15, 2015, at 6 p.m. The event will
feature a panel of three OHSU cancer specialists who will speak about the
new research and guidelines. The public is confused by the change in cancer
screening recommendations, so the goal of the event is to educate the
public. Cancer affects millions of people each year, so screening is
imperative to catch it early on.
Best,
Vania Ahmad
Media Spokesperson
503-680-4982
vaniaa@uoregon.edu