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Poll: Where do you fall in the mammogram debate?

November 20th, 2009, 6:00 am · 14 Comments · posted by Courtney Perkes

mammogramA government health panel’s recommendation this week touched off a big controversy among breast cancer survivors and their doctors. The group of doctors and scientists used statistical analysis of death rates to recommend that women have their first mammogram at 50 rather than 40.

The report mentioned that women experience unnecessary anxiety from  false positives and invasive testing. The doctors and scientists mention radiation exposure as a “minor concern.”

Dr. Susan Love, who runs a nonprofit breast cancer research foundation in Los Angeles, came under fire when she backed  the recommendations on her blog. She noted that in Europe women have screenings usually every other year after age 50, with similar results. Here’s an excerpt of her response after the backlash:

I hear your anger. I’m angry too. But not for the same reason. I’m angry because we’ve oversold the benefits of mammography to the extent that there is no longer room to look objectively at the evidence. I am angry that we still don’t know what causes breast cancer and how to prevent it.

Orange County women and doctors expressed outrage, calling the recommendation a step backward for women. Read their reaction here. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the findings were non-binding and that women should make health decisions in consultation with their doctors.

After the story ran, I received many calls and emails from doctors and breast cancer survivors who disagree with the report.  They say early detection saves lives and they’re worried that sending this message will make women less likely to go in for screening.

But what about the other side? The false-positive results, unnecessary imaging and biopsies.  Have you experienced undue stress from a breast cancer scare or had procedures you believe were unnecessary? Please share your thoughts below.

You can read the panel’s full report here.

Do you plan to have mammograms less frequently because of a new government recommendation?
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Posted in: breast cancer •
 
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 14 Comments

  • Breast cancer free going on 4 years!!! says:
    November 20, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    Over 187,000.00 women are informed they have breast cancer a year, and 3% of that total are men. Oh I don’t know… you tell me if getting a mammogram at an early age is silly. These new reports stating we should wait until we are 50 is RIDICULOUS! Women that carry the hereditary cancer gene (BRCA) should get a mammogram in their early 20’s and become proactive. Dr. Susan Love’s comment “oversold the benefits of mammography” Are you kidding me. You could never over sell someone on the safety of their life! Early detection could save many lives. If detected early, women diagnosed with breast cancer have a survival rate of 96 percent. I would like to know when Dr. Susan Love was diagnosed with breast cancer? The false-positive results, unnecessary imaging and biopsies (that she states in the article) - are few and far between, that isn’t even an argument! Breast Cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. It’s also the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 45 and 55. I found it “ODD” on Dr. Susan Loves web site, there is no comment section, she does however post a few emails that she received. If you want some great information on Breast Cancer go to the link below, the web site is all about helping and being proactive and nothing more. http://www.packageofprevention.com/

  • iahealth says:
    November 20, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    Breast cancer is a concern for most women - a real concern. Mammograms help preventative medicine and the emotional well being of women. It is surprising how much a government task force has stirred up so much problems. This will be interesting

    http://www.iahealth.net/the-mammogram-debate-what-should-you-choose

  • NBOC949 says:
    November 20, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    That is such BS. The real reason for those “recommendations” is COST. Plain and simple. If Obamacare passes (oh please, Lord, help us), the government is going to have to ration care in order to pay for it. The government will NOT be able to afford to cover annual mammograms. So isn’t it convenient that these recommendations come out now to have a mammo every other year. In other words, this is a precursor to health care rationing. Let’s get people used to it now. I’m not surprised Susan Love backs this – I thinking she’s a lib.

    So let’s say Obamacare is now in effect. Sally has her first mammogram at age 50. She has her next mammogram at age 52. Uh oh! Something shows up on her mammogram. She calls her doctor to make an appointment. She can’t get in for 8 weeks because the doctor is booked. Unbeknownst to her and her doctor, she has an extremely aggressive form of cancer. By the time she sees her doctor 8 weeks later, the tumor has grown and she is now at stage 2. The doctor has to call the federal government to get approval to do the biopsy, which takes an additional 21 days. Sally gets the ok from the feds, calls and makes her appointment. Once again, the doctor is booked and she must wait another 3 weeks. She is now at stage 3. She gets her biopsy results and works with her doctor to schedule surgery as soon as possible. Once again, the doctor must contact the feds to get approval. Due to government backlog, it takes nearly 6 weeks. She is now stage 4. The waiting list for cancer surgery is 6 months. But that doesn’t really matter….the cutoff for government treatment is stage 3 (they figure you’re going to die anyway at stage 4 so why spend the money) and the age cutoff for cancer surgery is 51.

    The bottom line? It sucks to be Sally.

    • Tracy says:
      November 20, 2009 at 4:49 pm

      Umm, I think the report says every 2 years before 50, after 50, it would be every year…

    • Nancy says:
      November 20, 2009 at 6:57 pm

      I couldn’t have said it better - NBOC949 is right. God help us if Obamacare passes. Healthcare is a business and government should have no intrustion at all into it.

  • Lori says:
    November 20, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    They won’t have to ration anything…there just won’t be anybody stupid enough to go into the medical profession, pay all the schools costs and then get paid pennies by the government to do the job they were trained for.

    Want to see a doctor after this passes? you better stand in line or have cash money in your hand, ask a real person from England how they get immediate health care…they pay out of pocket.

  • Tracy says:
    November 20, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    I think too much is being made controversial about this report. People are such sheep. Ladies, know your bodies. You should know what is what on your own breasts. If you are younger than 50 and feel once every 2 years is okay, I say go with it. If you do monthly breast exams or feel something, then go get checked. People act like the government and these reports tell them what to do and I say, guidelines are just that - guidelilnes. Educate yourselves, decide whats best for you, and for gosh sakes, stop letting the media direct your lives!!!

  • alleykat says:
    November 20, 2009 at 4:59 pm

    Lori - Our system would be nothing like it is in the UK. I have family in France and they have a system that uses both govt insurance and employer-provided private insurance. The medical care is top-notch there and very low cost. You can also pay out of pocket if you choose.

    On the subject, I am too young to have mammograms but I think I’ll stick with getting the yearly ones when I’m old enough. I’m scared of getting cancer.

  • Sunshine says:
    November 20, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    I am horrified at the recommendation, I have no family history of Breast Cancer and I had a mammogram at 37 and I HAD CANCER, I had a aggressive form that would have killed me within in the next year. I guess per Obama, Nancy and Boxer my death would have been a cost effiective way to save the country money. My husbands cousin in England didn’t get her mammogram until she was 50, she was died by 51. But socialist medicine made her comfortable in her last days, to bad the money wasn’t spent on a mammogram earlier and she would have been able to hold her first grandchild.

    We as women should stand up for our rights!!! and we are being treated by 2nd class citizens. Stop giving men viagra and changed the age of prostate checks and all the doctors complain.

    Don’t let our government pass a heathcare reform that we have to pay for but don’t get to use.

  • Jc says:
    November 20, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    And who are behind the “Government-panel” pushing this..?

    The republicans plans of healthcare.

    • Sunshine says:
      November 20, 2009 at 8:44 pm

      Wrong idiot, The Dems and Obama trying to keep this plan under 10 billion dollars. I’m sure when were standing in line to see the doctor we won’t see Obama family with us.

  • homeatlast says:
    November 20, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    Read the OCR obits ~ too many women in their 30s dieing of breast cancer ~ Susan G. Komen died at age of 36. Thus, The Komen for the Cure! I’m a two time survivor ~ early detection is KEY!!!

    read rhwe

  • jbinoc says:
    November 20, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    Even with one first and two second degree relatives having died of breast cancer I still think the annual mammograms (and paps) are nothing more than hype. I am clear about one thing - I will die someday - no matter how many doctors I see or how often.

  • ingodwetrust says:
    November 20, 2009 at 6:50 pm

    This is so ridiculous! My daughter attends CSF and she has a teacher who is very young with beast cancer. We also know another 39 year old with breast cancer. This makes me so mad I could scream!