MAMMOGRAMS - NEW GUIDELINES

Monday, November 16, 2009 a Government Task Force has announced its new guidelines on mammograms. It is their determination that it is not necessary for women to get mammograms starting at age 40 but should wait until they reach age 50 and then have one every two years after that until they reach 75. They also said that self-breast exams are useless and should not be taught to women. With breast cancer being the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States can we afford to forgo Mammograms and self-examination!

Edie Falco diagnosed age 40, Jaclyn Smith diagnosed age 56, Christina Applegate diagnosed age 36, Melissa Etheridge diagnosed age 43, Sheryl Crow diagnosed age 44, Olivia Newton-John diagnosed age 43, Suzanne Somers diagnosed age 54, Peggy Fleming diagnosed age 50, Cynthia Nixon diagnosed age 42, Soraya diagnosed age 31, Diahann Carroll diagnosed age 63, Jill Eikenberry diagnosed age 39.

These are some of the celebrities we all recognize who have had breast cancer. What about the plain Jane, you and me, our sisters, our mothers, our daughter and our nieces, our neighbors? Breast cancer knows no age. Just because you may not have breast cancer in yourfamily does not mean that you are immune.

Who do these doctors who make up the government task force think they are? For the last two decades we've been told that mammograms help detect breast cancer early and save lives; no doubt all the women mentioned above would agree. According to the task force the probability of dying of breast cancer after age 40 is 3 percent; does that mean this 3% is expendable to save on the cost on mammograms? If getting a mammogram at age 40 forward saves even one life the cost are well worth it. What's next, prostate exams for men next?

As usual Women's health is being thrown under the bus. What this really comes down to is that with a new government run health care plan on the horizon the powers that be are looking to cut cost. Medicare, Medicaid and Private Insurance Companies are complaining about the cost; though I don't know why because insurance companies pay so little to the Radiologist anyway. So much for not coming between us and our doctors! I see little difference between the thieves in the recent bailout and the thieves in the insurance and pharmaceutical industry. Cut the bonus, kill the kickbacks and save the patients.

It's just a matter of time before these guidelines are adopted. Before we know it our doctors with pressure from insurance companies will be recommending first mammograms be at age 50 and every two years thereafter; they will wait for the furor to quell first.

To all the women out there, we are a hundred million strong, speak up, speak out, be heard. In my opinion this task force should be run out of town with a hundred million women chasing them. Don't wait for these changes to be adopted down the road. Tell your Congressmen and Senators right now just what you think and how you feel.

To the men out there you are not immune, while primarily affecting women about 450 men die from breast cancer each year. One notable man who had breast is, Peter Criss, formerly of the band KISS. So for all men, for your wives, your mothers, your sisters, your daughters, your sons, your nieces and nephews speak up and speak out for continued mammogram coverage from 40 on.

Not one person is expendable when we have the technology to prevent dying from breast cancer.