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Oakland County Moms

Puzzled by Mammogram Guidelines

November 19, 2009

alt I don't get it. I thought preventive medicine saved money. I have not had a mammogram yet, but have always heard about how women who have done self exams did not find lumps that were detected via a mammogram. So why would anyone in their right mind say that women should wait longer to get one? Early detection is key. It's the only way to save a life. I fear that the guidelines released recently by a federal government task force - i.e. women start getting mammograms at age 50 and then every two years after that - will prevent us women from getting routine protection. And, what if insurance companies decide not to cover the expense until we reach an older age?

Why would anyone recommend to wait until age 50 when it is a proven fact that there are MANY cases detected well before that. Sadly, let's look at Stefanie Spielman, wife of former NFL player Chirs Spielman, who died yesterday of breast cancer. Stefanie Spielman was 30 years old and three months pregnant in 1998 when she detected a lump in her breast. She later miscarried and discovered she had cancer. She survived four bouts with cancer before a fifth recurrence in March. By the time she died at age 42, she already had cancer five times! How could anyone say it is best to wait until 50 to have a mammogram?

The task force that came up with the recommendation is an independent panel comprised of 16 medical experts including clinicians, pediatricians and bio statisticians, which regularly reviews cancer screenings and preventive care. I sure hope they know what they're doing. It would be reassuring if there was a plan showing how maybe a mammogram is not the best option, and here is its replacement. But, if it's the current best option, it would only hurt to take it away if there is nothing to put in its place.

What do you think?

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Comments (1)

Cheryl Heppard said:

I believe that this controversy will actually lead to women becoming better educated on this topic so they can make a more informed choice regarding annual mammagrams.

The reasoning behind the change in guidelines is an interesting one. Some researchers and physicians believe that because the BC risk for women in their 40's is still very low, it's not wise to offer a blanket recommendation to all women in their 40's to get mammograms. Mammograms expose women to radiation, which is cumalative over the years and is believed by some to possibly be responsible for the rising breast cancer rates. Mammograms can lead to unnecessary biopsies due to false positives.

There is an alternative to mammograms, which is getting a breast Thermascan. It's an infra-red (non-invasive and radiation free) thermal photo, which looks for increased areas of heat in the breasts to diagnose breast cancer. We have one of the best Thermascan clinics in the country in downtown Birmingham. Although, these are not without controversy either!

As with most things, you just have to do your own research and make your own informed decision.

November 29, 2009 07:19 AM

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