Should Have Earlier Breast Cancer Screenings

Waynejay

I viewed a recent news report that breast cancer is often found late in African American women because it seems to develop at an earlier age, than it does in white women.

It stated that researchers are looking into changing the national guidelines to recommend that African American women start getting their mammograms in their early thirties, rather then at the age of 40.

Under the current guidelines, the odds of an African American woman in her forties or older diagnosed with breast cancer has a more than 30% chance of it being a Triple Negative diagnosis, compared to that of white women of the same age.

Roya

Yes, this is true.  I have also read these facts. We African American women and other minorities are lulled into thinking that all women should wait until they are 40 years old for a mammo even though statistically we, especially the triple negs,  are at higher risk at younger ages.  We are following guidlines in which our stats were not even considered.  We ourselves have to educated oursevles and take action as a people.  No one else is going to get this done for us.

I think the 'national guidlines' in the USA are based upon the dictates of the insurance companies and $$$$$$ $ the cost!  There is so much unawareness as well.  In general, African Americans and other minorities are not being informed of their rate if risk.  We are going along with outdated dictates that are really no longer practical even for white women.

Thank you, Waynejay, for bringing  this subject up.

Yogi70

I have always thought that mammos should be provided for women no matter what age.  I asked my ob/gyn for a mammo when I was 34 and was told that I was too young and that 40 was the recommended age. Well, at 38 I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer 13 nodes positive. Just think, if I had been given  the mammo at 34 my cancer may have been found sooner.

So we really must take action, too many lives are being lost.

Jean12

Hello Yogi70

How are you? Well my post isn't about how soon you should get a mammo, not that it's not important because it is,but rather the mammo results being recognize. I went to get a mammo in Jan. 2009, I told them that something wasn't right because I was feeling pain, well I got a letter in mail saying that everyghing was ok.

I ask for my mammo reports and took them somewhere else and they found the tumor.

Wow - We all learn from our mistakes, we should follow our instints

Have a bless day/night

Jean

Anonymous

Jean, it wasn't your mistake but the fault during the first reading by the tech who didn't pick up the tumor.  I'm glad you did follow your instincts and take them for another opinion since you did have the pain to tell you something was not right 

It is posts like yours that attest to the need to be proactive and help the rest of us to be on the alert.  Roya stayed on my case to make sure I was getting all the information about my dx and tx and I really appreciated that.

dreaming

The magic 40 is a question of money,I am not an African American , and I can tell you that women in general are at risk because of their economic condition,  can not have tests done soon enogh;I had my daughter get a base mammogram at 25 because I had B.C even that I am the first in my family.

I wanted that her doctors had one to compare in the future.

There are clusters of cancer in the USA, when I moved to my city and 3 years later I had B.C. I got a map after attending my support group, because all were my neighbors, if you feel that you need a mammogram, do it.

Roya

Jean, I am soooo grateful that your tumor was found earliest stages.  I agree with patoo.  You followed your instincts.  I firmly believe that our instincts are God given for our awareness and protection.  Thank God you listened to yours!!!!!!!

dreaming

I am an Educator in a Hospital, and we explain till we are blue in the face the risks of unprotected sex,and we have too many with cervical cancer, we explain about Breast Cancer, free mammography even coupons, but it is a fact that many believe that is not going to happen to them.

A woman needs to have earlier mammograms, but it is more important breast exams monthly and if there is pain or any concern to go a see a doctor.