What do you think about the new guidelines about mammograms? Unless we have unusual risk factors, we don't need to get regular mammograms until we're in our fifties. So says an influential task force appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services. I'm going to link you to two articles from the New York Times. The first talks about the recommendations. You can read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/health/17cancer.html?_r=1&ref=health
The second article covers reaction to the news including concerns that the recommendations could make it less likely that isurance will cover mammograms. Click here
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/health/17scre.html?ref=health
Apparently testing women in their forties saves the life of "only" one woman for every 1,904 women screened. Now I'm not big on unnecessary testing. And I know any x ray carries risks. But I also personally know quite a few of those one in 1,904 women saved. And every one of them has young children. And without their mammograms every one of those children would be without their moms right now.
How do you feel about all of this?
As a person whose mother is a breast cancer survivor, I'm disturbed by this. My mom was not diagnosed until she was 57, however her doctor recommended I start getting tested at 35, even though her cancer was not the type to be passed on. I will be pushing my doctor to test early!
ReplyDeleteTrish, I'd encourage you to see what I wrote about this. It is here: http://iwantaminivan.blogspot.com/2009/11/bad-advice.html
ReplyDeleteI guess it all comes down the the dollar value placed on human life. My mom is in her 40s. I for one could not assign a dollar amount to her worth.
ReplyDeleteI think they should test women like crazy.
I couldn't believe it when I heard this on the news the other morning. I've known several women who have had breast cancer, and survived, and were in their 40's. What if they had waited?
ReplyDeleteI was appalled when I read about this too. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 30 and died at 34. I was 6. I have no idea how her cancer was found but it would have been from any one of the things they are trying to stop people from doing. All i can think is that this is one of many steps towards socialized medicine, where the government will have the final say on how and who will be treated for what.
ReplyDeletelosing any family member or loved one is always devastating. We should be doing the opposite to save even one life.