New guidelines about women in their 40s receiving mammograms from the US
Preventive Services Taskforce this week already had me up in arms. The
more I read about their findings and their reasoning behind the guidelines,
the madder I got.
Then I got the call this week. The mammogram I just had, revealed a lump.
This brought the controversy right to my doorstep as a women in her 40s.
Taskforce representatives have said that "mammograms only reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by up to 20%." SOOOOO????
Sorry you've deemed saving those 20% of women in their 40s just isn't
worth it. If you are in that 20% and don't have a mammogram, that can = DEATH. When death
is the option, 20% sounds pretty high to me. We aren't talking 1 or 2%,
but 20%. So I feel those mammograms would be saving a hell of a lot of women in this country who
are in their 40s like me.
Taskforce representative
have also said "mammograms are unnecessary because many times they have
false-positive results, causing anxiety and needless biopsies". Like
I said I am there right now. Yes this might be a false-positive and yes
it is causing me anxiety and perhaps it will lead to a needless biopsy.
However I think most women in their 40s will agree with me when I say I
will gladly accept that trade-off of anxiety caused by a false-positive
reading and perhaps a needless biopsy in exchange for the possibility of
cancer being found early and while still treatable.
Most big insurance companies for now are saying they will continue to cover mammograms for women in their 40s. However
you can bet all the stimulus money you received that there is a good
chance
they may change their minds after the Health Care bill passes (I hate
it, but I have become resigned to the fact that this horrible Health
Care bill will pass).
Perhaps I am wrong and insurance companies do continue to cover mammograms for women in their 40s? This
Taskforce's findings will still result in a ton less women in their 40s
getting mammograms and possibly dying from breast cancer. I know so many
women who didn't get mammograms for years out of fear and only after
loved ones hounding them, did they acquiesce. Now those with fears will
instantly latch on to this study and use it as the excuse they wanted to
not get a mammogram, even if they really should be getting one.
So
when you are reading and discussing the pros and cons of these
guidelines, please feel free to personalize it and put my face to the
cause. I am a women in her 40s who had a mammogram that revealed a lump
and regardless of the anxiety, possible unneeded testing, etc I am still
extremely glad that I had my mammogram and will fight for that right
for my
fellow women in their 40s and myself.
