Mammography: Controversy on New Screening Procedures

Mammogram screening is a question of bureaucracy. Initially, it should only be a bureaucrat between you and your doctor. Now, it is a bureaucrat between you and the state. This is another scenario where science and politics collide with their vested interests. The insurance companies are looking into it on how it would be beneficial for them but disregarding the health of women. Last Sunday on,"Meet the Press", Nancy G. Brinker (World Health Organization's Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control and Susan G. Komen for the Cure Founder) and Dr. Nancy Snyderman (Chief Medical Editor-NBC News)were guests and shared their points of view. As a medical professional Dr. Nancy Snyder discusses the inevitable fact that the clash between science and politics led Americans on the brink of being an "illiterate country". She questioned why government will be enmeshed in the health care system procedures. Since statistics showed that early breast cancer screening does not proved much significant difference,that is why the consensus arise where there are only a lot of "unnecessary" screening requested by doctors. As a result, they wanted to decrease the frequency of mammogram among middle age adults. She finally noted that the State should "let the scientists do their job" on improving these statistical figures which we all know are subject to various changes. She further stressed the importance of screening, vaccination and stem cell research.

On the other hand, Nancy G. Brinker proposed for a "better technology". She said that fixing technology gap means to get the technology we need. And this scientific advancement should be "available" to all women in an "inexpensive" manner. Her emphasis is on behavioral modification even if she knows that changing people's behavior is a fragile proposition. She believes that this new health issues only proved there is not much "pink" mindset in America. Finally, she encouraged people to be engaged with these government rules and to stop being politically naive.

The controversy regarding screening mammogram beginning at age 40 relates to the following facts: (1) the disease is much less common in the 40 to 49 year age group because they believed screening is only successful for the most common problems; (2) workup of mammographic abnormalities in the 40 to 49 year age group do not usually diagnosed as cancer; and (3) about 35% of women who are annually screened during their forties showed an abnormality that only requires a diagnostic procedure such as a biopsy; yet very few medical evaluations reveal cancer. However, many believe in the value of screening mammography beginning at age 40.

For More Information visit www.komen.org

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