Mammogram or Not!

Once again I will complain about the priorities of this country. Our country is one of the richest countries in the world and the average person goes without. The average person works their butt off yet they can not afford health insurance. With today's economy the average person is lucky if they can stay in their home or eat.

I find this so pathetic. How can doctors and hospitals be permitted to charge so outrageously? You stay in the hospital and God forbid you need a Tylenol. There's $10 on your bill. Now the hospitals have hospital doctors where most of the time you don't even see your family doctor. These doctors walk in your room, a different one everyday, ask how you are feeling, leave and next thing you know there's another bill. You almost have to keep records of everything that goes on to be sure that you were really charged correctly.

The medical profession needs to somehow be restructured before we start making people have to pay for insurance. It's totally ridiculous. Usually any comment the medical profession makes gives the insurance companies an excuse to drop coverage for whatever commented about. Excuse me but you can not tell me they do not work together and not in our best interests.

Now they are telling women it is not necessary to have mammograms until the age of 50. Unfortunately, cancer has no age limit and with any cancer the sooner it is caught the better. It is said once you feel a lump it has already been there for awhile. Depending on how fast or slow spreading this cancer is can make a big difference. So, if you have found a lump of a very fast spreading cancer, is it already in your lungs or anywhere else in your body? Who can say until further testing is done?

My Aunt who recently died at the age of 85 had a mammogram in her forties. They found cancer the size of a pin head. It was removed and no further treatments were necessary. Therefore, she did not have to undergo further costly treatments for the cancer and remained cancer free until she died of a heart attack.

I have had mammograms which I started in my forties because breast cancer runs through my family. I am now in my fifties and it is an annual event for me. I will admit they are very uncomfortable but I feel well worth it. To me, losing a breast would never mean more to living a long life.

Then the medical professional starts throwing out percentages of how much cancer is found in this age rage. Excuse me, we are people, not statistics. If a woman does not want a mammogram in her forties that's one thing but if another does, she should be permitted and insurance should cover this.

Why is it so difficult to find preventative care as the best step to go? I have dealt with cancer in my family. Fortunately, I have not had cancer but from what I have seen it can be devastating to one's life, to the family and friends. The sooner caught the better.

So to the medical profession, watch your words and show more concern for what you really stand for. If you are really concerned about saving the dollar, preventative medicine is better and should come first.

I do realize the insurance companies have not made their changes yet but give them time.