If I'd Followed This Advice, I'd Be Dead.

[Feralpeg]

Here is the results of a new study regarding mammograms and breast self-exams. All I can say is that every woman needs to be her own health advocate. I will continue to have my yearly mammogram and do my self-exam. I found my cancer at age 31 doing a self-exam.

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/9009/9527388/New_mammogram_advice_raises_questions_concerns

 

[Pakey]

Same here. I was under 50 too. IF I had went for my annual mammogram, mine would not have been in an advanced stage when finally detected.

 

[luvmy3]

I know a few women who were diagnosed after 50, but I know more who were diagnosed before.

 

[ogreenlee]

i was shocked by this news this morning.

i'm 38 and have already had 2 mammograms with no family history. i'm the person they are talking about with this study. they feel that they are wasting money using these things on me. still, how do they account for all the people who have early onset breast cancer? seems like lately, that age keeps getting younger and younger, too.

i think women should keep up their self-exam!

 

[MinnieTink]

I'm very surprised at the mammo advice being given out today!! I have worked at a radiology facilty for over 10 years and, though I don't know the stats, I can think of A LOT of women who would be gone had they heeded this advice! Including a 40-something mammo tech currently battling breast ca. I have even met a beautiful 19 year old breast cancer survivor. I'm confused by this.

 

[luvmy3]

So a Gov't task force came up this, are we sure we want them controlling our healthcare.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm going to suggest that this was influenced by the insurance companies.

I don't know what my present or next insurance covered.

But my last insurance didn't even cover them until 40. I know someone whose wife had it detected via MRI and had heard that MRI's may be the way to go.

In any case, something smells rotten in Denmark for the govt to go against the American Cancer Society who is pretty up on their knowledge and gains nothing by encouraging earlier screenings for any type of a cancer.

I personally have never had one. But I've been pregnant or nursing for the past 9 years. I had a 1 year gap of nothing...but even then was told by my midwife that my mammary glands would still have milk (and they did---b/c I could still express it). B/c of the milk ducts being in baby mode, a mammogram would cause undo concern and worry.

Not sure if that is true or not, but that is the only reason I haven't had one (aside from not finding anything on self detection aside from clogged ducts or painful mastitis.)

 

[RitaE]

I was really shocked to hear that this morning also.
I hate hate hate going for my mammograms but I can pretty well guarantee I would never find anything on a self-exam. My breasts are too large and grainy.


They were saying on CNN this morning that there was not one Oncologist on the board that is making this new recommendations. That sounds rather irresponsible to me. And I'll admit it - might immediate suspicion was that the insurance companies are behind this somehow.

 

[princess momma]

I believe I also read somewhere where they're discouraging women from doing monthly self exams due to the number of benign lumps they find.

I think it's all about money and it's shameful.

 

[bookgirl]

Well from what I can tell this group is like 30 years old and is not an actual government agency. It is appointed and has funds, but they don't say who is actually doing the funding.


I'll wait and see. At 43 I"ve only been doing mamograms for three years (three women on my Father's side had Breast Cancer but I'm told that I wasn't a high risk, so I did not start them till 40). For now I'll continue with a yearly check.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Whether it's insurance or the medical industry, when I read that article this morning I started wondering how many "urgent" or "necessary" procedures (that never used to be urgent or necessary) are now going to be deemed unnecessary because they won't be cash cows anymore under the new government medical plan?

 

[Hoodie]

This is the task force

http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstfab.htm

It is the research arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, so it is a gov't agency.

It will be interesting to see if this has an effect on coverage for private insurance. Can pretty much guaranty this will mean a severe change for those on government programs.

Oh - and I agree w/OP. I know 2 women who have battled breast cancer, both diagnosed through routine mammograms in their 40's. One is a survivor, one lost her battle but she survived 8 years due to her early treatment.

 

[kacaju]

my Mom was 49 when she felt a lump. She had a mastectomy because her cancer was more spread out and they couldn't get the *whole lump* I am now 42 and have been getting Mammograms for years now. I have no plans on stopping.

 

[lovin diz]

So a Gov't task force came up this, are we sure we want them controlling our healthcare.

THis was my first reaction also.... I did a self exam at 22 years old and found a lump...We have a history of breast cancer in my family....I will keep doing my self exams and mamo's thank them very much!

 

[ogreenlee]

I had heard that the funds saved could go into breast cancer research to actually come up with better ways of early detection.

 

[ogreenlee]

This also was meant for those who have no history. Those with family history of breast cancer are still encouraged to get their regular screenings.

 

[luvmy3]

This also was meant for those who have no history. Those with family history of breast cancer are still encouraged to get their regular screenings.

But there are plenty of women who are diagnosed younger than 50 that have no family history.

 

[tink_lover]

This makes me so angry I can barely stand it!! My first reaction is that it is insurance companies trying to save money by not covering the mammograms. I had a lumpectomy after my first one at age 40. What would have happened if I had waited another 10 years? I know many women battling bc in their 40s. One of my relatives just started chemo this week. If this is the direction the new government run healthcare is going, I will become a lobbyist against it.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

So a Gov't task force came up this, are we sure we want them controlling our healthcare.

 

[smkiya]

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/9009/9527388/New_mammogram_advice_raises_questions_concerns

"A government task force said Monday that most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50 -- a stunning reversal and a break with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position. What's more, the panel said breast self-exams do no good, and women shouldn't be taught to do them." quoted from link above....

Seems to me that the insurance company lobbyists are shelling out even bigger bucks in Wahington. I think they're getting nervous about the potential Healthcare Reform.