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

[Planogirl]

I must be too tired today because it still seems vague to me.

 

[DawnCt1]

If you are correct and this advice leads to "more radical surgery for metastatic breast cancer, imaging that will be required to follow the progress of that cancer, etc." how will it reduce costs?

Because those patients will die.

 

[TwingleMum]

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

ITA This is just the beginning.

 

[DawnCt1]

How will it reduce costs? I think the answer is either in short sightedness or lack of logical compassionate thought. In the short term it does save money to discard preventative diagnosis. The upfront costs are still high. But the cases that aren't caught early are higher in cost, if caught too late it costs nothing for medical treatment.

Maybe the will have a study that demonstrates that encouraging smoking will decrease the strain on Social Security and the government will provide free cigarettes to the yet unaddicted.

 

[a1tinkfans]

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

I agree, A mammography SAVED my LIFE. Cancer SURVIVOR here!

WHO DO YOU WANT MAKING YOUR MEDICAL DECISIONS/PROTOCOLS??

GOVERNMENT=CUTBACKS for Cost SAVINGS!

PATIENTS and DOCTORS together!

SCARY Gov't Gone AMUCK!!!!!!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Maybe the will have a study that demonstrates that encouraging smoking will decrease the strain on Social Security and the government will provide free cigarettes to the yet unaddicted.

SCARY thought..........is it that UNREAL?

 

[DawnCt1]

ITA This is just the beginning.

Maybe we all should make our next mammogram appointments at the Post Office. We can mail a letter to our congressman at the same time.

 

[DancingBear]

ITA This is just the beginning.

Actually, it's not the beginning at all. This panel has been around for several years and made recommendations as to dozens of matters.

See the Komen Foundation's statement I linked to earlier:

As with all screening tests, the decision to perform a mammogram must include an evaluation of the benefits and the risks of the screening tool, as well as a consideration of patient preference.

Given that reality, who do you want making these recommendations?

This is an independent panel of experts sponsored by, but not representing, the government--not insurance companies or providers. They base their recommendations on scientific findings and publicly set out the basis therefor (which is not the dollar costs). They even set forth the contrary recommendations of the American Cancer Society and others.

 

[DancingBear]

SCARY thought..........is it that UNREAL?

Uhhh, yeah, it is UNREAL.

 

[DawnCt1]

Actually, it's not the beginning at all. This panel has been around for several years and made recommendations as to dozens of matters.

See the Komen Foundation's statement I linked to earlier:

Given that reality, who do you want making these recommendations?

This is an independent panel of experts sponsored by, but not representing, the government--not insurance companies or providers. They base their recommendations on scientific findings and publicly set out the basis therefor (which is not the dollar costs). They even set forth the contrary recommendations of the American Cancer Society and others.

DH questions their methodology and their conclusions. He isn't in the "breast cancer or imaging business" but is extremely skilled at evaluating studies. This one is seriously flawed and based on cost savings and irrelevant risks. They used the outcome of multiple studies and merged the data and created a computer model and made predictions based upon the patients' age. They estimated that for every life saved, 45 breast biopsies had to be done. They overestimated the risk of a simple breast biopsy which resulted in negative findings. At the end of the spectrum, 75 years. That flies in the face of logic. Most breast cancer occurs after the age of 60. Maybe those 75 year olds are dying of something else but then, maybe they won't die...unless they have undiagnosed breast cancer. These same computer type models have predicted that due to global warming, the east coast should be under water by now. We aren't and its been cold.

 

[blissventure]

Actually, it's not the beginning at all. This panel has been around for several years and made recommendations as to dozens of matters.

See the Komen Foundation's statement I linked to earlier:

Given that reality, who do you want making these recommendations?

This is an independent panel of experts sponsored by, but not representing, the government--not insurance companies or providers. They base their recommendations on scientific findings and publicly set out the basis therefor (which is not the dollar costs). They even set forth the contrary recommendations of the American Cancer Society and others.

Dancing Bear, thanks for your explanations of the recommendations. These are emotional issues, and facts are helpful.

 

[DancingBear]

DH questions their methodology and their conclusions. He isn't in the "breast cancer or imaging business" but is extremely skilled at evaluating studies. This one is seriously flawed and based on cost savings and irrelevant risks.

Well, then, that seals it.

I think rather than accept the conclusion of your DH I'll read and evaluate the panel's recommendation. They set forth their reasoning in great detail, including a discussion of several studies, an evaluation of whether there is sufficient data on various issues, where there are gaps in the data, etc.

 

[DawnCt1]

Well, then, that seals it.

I think rather than accept the conclusion of your DH I'll read and evaluate the panel's recommendation. They set forth their reasoning in great detail, including a discussion of several studies, an evaluation of whether there is sufficient data on various issues, where there are gaps in the data, etc.

I would rather accept the conclusions of the experts that deal day to day with the life and death issues of breast cancer. I sure wish that my mom was a survivor, unfortunately she wasn't. I will continue to get my annual mammograms, in spite of the recommendations of the "panel" that no doubt have my best interest at heart.

 

[C.Ann]

Not even ten minutes ago my 37 yr. old DD called me to tell me she found a lump in her breast and will be having an ultrasound and mammogram on Friday!

She found it through self-exam a few days ago, but didn't want to tell me until after she went to the doctor this afternoon.. Needless to say, she's furious over all this crap that's on the news today..

I won't panic - I won't panic - I won't panic.. But could someone please tell me it's going to be okay? I had a lump removed myself (benign) back in the 80's and as far back as I can remember, there is no breast cancer history in our family.. (Well - I don't know about my birth father's side of the family - but I do know about my birth mother's family - as well as my DD's dad's family..)

She said it's hard - and it hurts when it's touched.. That's how mine was.. That's a good sign - right??

What a stupid, stupid thing to be advising women to do!

 

[DawnCt1]

Not even ten minutes ago my 37 yr. old DD called me to tell me she found a lump in her breast and will be having an ultrasound and mammogram on Friday!

She found it through self-exam a few days ago, but didn't want to tell me until after she went to the doctor this afternoon.. Needless to say, she's furious over all this crap that's on the news today..

I won't panic - I won't panic - I won't panic.. But could someone please tell me it's going to be okay? I had a lump removed myself (benign) back in the 80's and as far back as I can remember, there is no breast cancer history in our family.. (Well - I don't know about my birth father's side of the family - but I do know about my birth mother's family - as well as my DD's dad's family..)

She said it's hard - and it hurts when it's touched.. That's how mine was.. That's a good sign - right??

What a stupid, stupid thing to be advising women to do!

The numbers are on her side Ann. I am confident that it will be fine, so don't panic. I am glad we aren't at the point where she was told, "don't examine your breast and come back in 6 months".

 

[C.Ann]

The numbers are on her side Ann. I am confident that it will be fine, so don't panic. I am glad we aren't at the point where she was told, "don't examine your breast and come back in 6 months".

Thanks, Dawn.. The last thing she needs is one more thing on her plate..

I still can't believe this garbage they're spouting today..

 

[DawnCt1]

Thanks, Dawn.. The last thing she needs is one more thing on her plate..

I still can't believe this garbage they're spouting today..

Its upsetting. Just the stories of the women on this thread alone, are enough for me.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Its upsetting. Just the stories of the women on this thread alone, are enough for me.

It is upsetting.

C.Ann, I'll keep your DD in my thoughts and prayers. I'm glad she caught it!

 

[DMRick]

I couldn't believe it when I read this report. How much influence does insurance have on this study? If I have to pay for them myself, I'll continue to mave mamo's. As for self exam..almost everyone I know who has had breast cancer, has found it during self exam, and the person who didn't, was 42 and it was found via mamo. Yes, there are lumps and bumps found during self exam that are nothing more than lumps and bumps..but that's what has often gotten woman to the doc..and while in most cases it's nothing, who wants to volunteer to be the person who doesn't exam, and finds out the self exam could have saved their live?

Prayerfully everything will be OK for your daughter C.Ann. It's good she was diligent in her exams, no matter which way it goes. Better to hear..'it's nothing' than to hear, 'why didn't you come in sooner'.

For all or you who have shared your stories..thank you. It just goes to show that we have to do what we as woman feel is in our best interests.

 

[tink_lover]

I had to go to work and spend 2 hours with a bunch of oncology nurses....who cannot believe these recommendations! I hope it's okay to post this news report. The doctor quoted was my doctor who I saw after my first mammogram/biopsy/lumpectomy.

I want to wish those survivors who have posted continued good health and those dealing with this disease hope for a healthy future! We have come a long way in dealing with bc over the past decade.


Mayo: Don't skip the mammograms
11/17/2009 9:05:01 AM
Comments (25)
By Jeff Hansel

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

An independent government-appointed panel is challenging the current methods for breast cancer screening in women, citing evidence that the potential harm of having annual exams beginning at age 40 is greater than the benefit.


Mayo Clinic Key Messages

Mayo Clinic advice:

• Keep your appointments for breast screening and discuss any concerns with health providers.

• Be familiar with your breasts. If there are any changes, bring this to doctors' attention promptly.

• Women at high risk for breast cancer due to family history and/or genetic profile should follow health-team advice.

(Source: Mayo Clinic)

Old way:

• Mammograms every year starting at age 40

• Breast self exams recommended

Task force recommends:

• Mammograms every two years -- not starting until age 50 -- and continuing through age 74, except when a patient is at high risk (when screening would be done earlier). The choice of whether to start earlier than 50 "should be an individual one and take patient context into account, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms."


Mayo Clinic, though, plans to keep following American Cancer Society advice of women age 40 and older have annual mammography screening, said Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, director of the Mayo Breast Diagnostic Clinic.

"This is not going to affect our practice. However, it's going to have patients up in arms," Pruthi said.

Patty Allen, co-founder of Join the Journey, a Rochester non-profit organization that raises money for cancer education, support and awareness, was aghast at the report.

"To come out with a statement like that's a big, fat waste of time -- is just the dumbest thing I've ever heard, that's my take on it. You're just reversing years of public education," Allen said. "... if it's based on science, what can I say, except I think it confuses people." It's unclear what will happen with insurance and Medicare coverage.

But the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in its report says "false positives, unnecessary biopsies, and overdiagnosis" are problems for women under 50. Also, a breast self exam "does not reduce breast cancer mortality," says a task force article posted online in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the journal of the American College of Physicians.

Mayo, however, said, "data from multiple long-term studies show that routine mammography screening for breast cancer, and subsequent treatment, lowers a woman's risk of dying from the disease by at least 20 percent, compared with women who do not get screened." Pruthi continues to educate and encourage patients to do breast self exams. Also, mammography before age 50 has been shown to decrease mortality, she said, which the journal article acknowledges despite its recommendations.

The journal article says "to extend one woman's life," 1,904 women age 40 to 49 would have to get screened, versus 1,339 to have the same effect between ages 50 and 59 (because breast cancer risk rises with age).

"I was 48 with no risk factors, no history -- nothing. I just went in for a routine mammogram every year ... they found a cancer," said Allen.

When was the last time Pruthi diagnosed a 40-something woman with breast cancer?

"Today -- I see it every day. My colleagues and I diagnose women every day in their 30s and 40s."


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