New Guidelines Too Quick to Dismiss Value of Self-breast Exams and Routine Mammograms

The recent study conducted by the United States Preventive Services Task Force makes new recommendations regarding self-breast exams and mammogram screenings. The findings seem callous and seem to disregard a person's perception of risk. It also seems like the study does not compare the cost of these early screenings versus the cost of care or cost of death. Nor does the study seem like it takes into account the legal costs involved. We live in a society that is filled with people who are more than happy to sue for any reason. I can only imagine there would be a couple of families out there, overwhelmed with grief, who would sue for malpractice, medical negligence, and an immeasurable emotional damage.

I will acknowledge that sometimes it may seem like a lot of tests are done to be only told that you're growing old or that it's just a non-concerning phenomenon. But isn't it better to be safe than sorry? What about the studies that say preventative care cuts the overall cost of healthcare? What about dental screenings? Should we skip the dentist as long as our teeth aren't falling out of our mouths? One could argue that we visit the dentist all too frequently. Comparatively speaking, isn't a routine exam less costly than filling a cavity or having to replace a whole decayed tooth, however? Routine dental exams and x-rays are part of preventative care. Wouldn't routine mammograms and self-breast exams fall under the same characterization?

With all that aside, there is enough empirical evidence to convince me that self-breast exams and routine early mammograms are worth it.

Stefanie Spielman recently died from breast cancer. She had a 12-year battle with the disease and did much to raise funds for breast cancer research in the Columbus, OH area. I don't believe she would agree with study's findings. According to the article on the local NBC-affiliate's website, she found a lemon-sized lump (tumor) in one of her breasts during a self-exam. She was consequently diagnosed with breast cancer. Had she not done a self-breast exam, would she have had 12 years to live?

I know of other women who have routine mammograms and lumps are discovered. Often times the lumps may be benign, but in other cases, the lumps are cancerous. These are lumps so small that they wouldn't have discovered them during a routine self-breast exam. These women are relatively young in their 30's and 40's and many without prior or family history of breast cancer. If regular screenings did not occur until age 50, how many of these lives that have been saved would have a different ending under these new recommendations.

Then there's me. I will be the first to admit I do not do self-breast exams on a regular basis. But I am aware of how my breasts look and feel. And I'm glad I've been taught to have this self-awareness. If not, someone else could easily be typing this for me. Over the summer, I found puckering and dimpling around the nipple on only my left breast. From all the literature that is out there, red flags immediately went up and I feared the worst.

I called my doctor right away and although his initial thoughts were that I had nothing to fear as I could not feel a lump and neither could he upon examination, he recommended I have a mammogram and/or ultrasound to determine the cause of the irregularity in my breast that I now observed. Both the mammogram and ultrasound came back clear to my relief but still did not explain the puckering and dimpling. There was still a small chance that something cancerous was causing the dimpling and puckering and it was only a matter of time before it was picked up on a mammogram or other test. I was referred to a specialist to rule such matter out. After an examination, I've been assured that I do NOT have cancer, considering all the facts and based on medical and professional opinion. I do have one more follow-up appointment with the specialist just to be sure nothing has changed in the last few months.

So for all that, I felt greatly relieved - I was going to get to see my kids go to kindergarten - shoot, I was going to live to see my kids graduate high school and college, and get married! What price could I put on that? I also committed myself to regular screenings. I am adopted and I don't know my biological family's medical history. Cancer could run in my genes. I'd rather not take my chances and live carelessly. I want to live to see my kids enjoy full lives and that means taking care of myself in spite of the unknown medical history. Part of taking care of myself is taking preventative health seriously and subjecting myself to all preventative screenings when recommended. Therefore, I will gladly go have regular mammograms well before I am even 40.

Just in case I was feeling a bit sheepish about seeing a specialist when it turned out that what I am observing is most likely part of my body's aging process, the specialist said, "I'd rather see you come in with this and be nothing than have you wait and come in with Stage IV cancer [when it's too late]."

That's all the reassurance I needed that I wasn't being silly and that it was good I took my health seriously. Being that aware of my body and health allowed me to act quickly and be the best advocate for my health. I'd rather pay the price of acting on something that turns out to be nothing than pay the price for ignoring something that could kill me.

So, while it may be true that generally speaking, mammograms could be done less frequently, I highly value self-breast exams and the use of routine mammograms and do not dismiss their value in my overall healthcare.