Breastcancer.org's Opinion on Changes to Mammography Guidelines

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Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
check out this link:http://www.breastcancer.org/opinion/mammography_guidelines.jsp **** Also, Dr. Marisa Weiss (Breastcancer.org President and Founder) is going head to head with Susan Komen 11/17 on Good Morning America (8:00 a.m. EDT). Dr. Weiss will be defending the role of mammography for women between 40 and 50. ************

Comments

  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited November 2009

    How do we contact the US Preventive Services Task Force to comment on their proposed changes? I have been searching for contact information since I read Dr. Weiss' article.

  • Lauren3
    Lauren3 Member Posts: 289
    edited November 2009

    I just read the article and am actually sick to my stomach.  Thanks for the additional info, mods.

  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited November 2009

    Sure, they can go ahead and change the guidelines, and in their effort to save more $$ (which in reality we all know is the bottom line) they can expect to spend more in treatment for younger women who have a more advanced disease. My opinion - this decision is all about money - just the same as how the insurance companies used to not provide coverage for an annual pap - until they realized that they would spend more treating cervical cancer than to pay for the annual testing. Just my 2 cents...

  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 1,378
    edited November 2009

    Sitting here with my jaw dropped open ... after listening to my local news here in Seattle ... I've got the DVR programmed to listen to the national news on NBC in 10 minutes ... this is absurb !!!!!!

  • ProudMommyDebbie
    ProudMommyDebbie Member Posts: 6
    edited January 2010

    This is outrageous.

    I'm 26, and if i didn't have problems with my kidneys in 2008, at the age of 24, and was not hospitalized and had ct scans that happened to show masses in my left breast, I would have never been touched by anyone to have a mammogram because i had to be 30 or older.

    I had my first mammogram in Feb 2008 at age 24, which followed biopsies and 6 month ultrasound and check-ups.

    Now Jan 2010 and one of the lumps that was there in 2008 has continues to grow and there are two new ones, to total 4 in my left breast, and my breast surgeon has me getting a lumpectomy on jan 13th.

    I have cancer in my family history, but what do they or would they consider highly risk because very doctor is different in their classification?

    My adopted mother went through a breast mastectomy (only one breast, so i guess a partial mastectomy) in 1993 or 1994 and had her lymph nodes taken out and went through radiation. I remember this and it was horrifying seeing my mom go through this at the age of 11 or 12.

    I never imagined I'd be going through this at this age while having my three children and husband depend on me to be the healthy one and be able to take care of them.

    This change is about money, and there will be a continued amount of people suffering because they were turned away by doctors because of their "too young" of age.

  • young_pink_lady
    young_pink_lady Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2010

    I agree Proud Mommy! I am 25 and in Jan. i went to a walk in clinic cause my right breast was rock hard. The doctor asked me if i had a history of cancer (no), and told me it was prob just a cyst and not to worry about it. I had to press her to send me for some kinda test. After an ultrasound i went back to get the results and she was like wow its a good thing you didnt egnore it (it was 8x9, kinda hard to egnore). I was officially diagnosed in Feb. I have undergone chemo (we did this first cause it was too big to remove at the time), a double masectomy, and now im doing radiation and taking tamoxifan.

    Point is i never in a million years thought i was at risk, ive only done a self check twice. I thought it wasnt something someone my age had to worry about. Because of my diagnosis my friends avidly check themselves out now.

    From what i hear its begining to happen to younger and younger women. Something needs to be done to bring this awareness.  It'll be good when the day comes that mamograms are done like pap tests. here's to hoping

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