Someone was telling me that the 50+ recommendation for Breast Cancer Screening is not new. As far as I’ve always known it has always been 40+ as long as there was not a family history of breast cancer so I’m sharing links.
CDC.gov > Kinds of Screening Tests: “Mammogram. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. If you are age 40 years or older, be sure to have a screening mammogram every one to two years.”
AHRQ > Screening for Breast Cancer: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening mammography, with or without clinical breast examination, every 1-2 years for women aged 40 and older.
American Cancer Society > Their site is currently down I would imagine because they are getting hit pretty hard for the key words breast cancer screening. I’m telling you that this 50+ recommendation that is out now is NEW and unwarranted. Why do you think everybody is up in arms over this subject?
Susan G. Komen for the Cure > News and Perspectives > Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Scientific Advisory Board’s Perspective on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Recommendations on Breast Screening: That was an interesting article. I didn’t know they were changing Mammograms to every other year. I always thought it was to be done once every year when you go in for your exam. One thing that this article stated that I agree with is this: “Different organizations, based on a review of the same data, may recommend either yearly or every other year screening for women at average risk of breast cancer between the ages of 40-75. We believe that the timing of assessment is best left to a woman and her health care provider. We call upon third party payers to fund annual mammography if a woman and her health care provider opt for this approach.”
National Breast Cancer Foundation > Early Detection Plan: “By the age of 40: Having a baseline mammogram and annual clinical breast exams.” Keep reading on that page because there is more to learn about early detection.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month > Early Detection > Mammogram Screening: “Obtain regular mammography screening starting at the age of 40“
Insurance companies don’t make breast cancer screening recommendations. Doctors do. Insurance companies set their own guidelines for what they will pay, how they will pay it, and who gets covered under their insurance plans.
If you are a woman and are reading this post I sure hope that you are not going to wait until you are 50 years old to have your first mammogram. I hope you are doing self breast examinations too. If you have a family history of breast cancer then you need a more aggressive screening plan that goes above and beyond anyone’s recommendations.
If something doesn’t feel right do talk to your doctor and don’t listen to what anybody out there is saying because people under the age of 40 get diagnosed with breast cancer a lot.
It’s just a boob people. There is a hand over it and the nipple is covered.
I can’t believe there is not one woman out there that doesn’t have something to say about the demise of our health care in this country.
Now they are trying to change how we get our pap tests too.
Ooh. I have lots to say!!
I believe that healthcare for all is a wonderful goal. A worthy goal. BUT NOT at the expense of the unborn(taxpayer funded abortion)the elderly(euthanasia)and the physically or mentally disabled(futile care)!!! Government run healthcare?? No thank you.
The push will be to cut costs at the expense of other’s lives. What price tag do we put on ourselves and our loved ones??
I am 44. Have not had a mammogram. I do self exams and do not relish the thought of boob sqooshing.
PS Susan G Komen gives grants to Planned Parenthood and does not list ABORTION as an increased risk of breast cancer. Why would they give to the nation’s largest abortion business while still trying to find a cure for breast cancer? That might be a blog of a different color.
Abortion is not healthcare.
Ya know, Carla, I would totally be interested in a guest post from you about the Susan G Komen and Planned Parenthood link – are you game?
A guest post about this is definitely in order! I did not know that about Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood. I’ll bet there are a lot of groups out there that donate to Planned Parenthood that choose to look the other way at their abortion practices. You are right! Abortion is NOT Healthcare.