Sign the Petition Against the new Mammography Guidelines
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My daughter 39 has BC. Need to screen EARLY.
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I am signing for my mother who died at 52 and for the future of my sisters, daughters, grandaughters and beyond!
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Diagnosed BC at age 52. Didn't feel the lump. Mammogram showed it. Even with screens from mammo and ultrasound in front of him, the surgeon couldn't feel it, either. It seemed that half the women in my BC support group had tumors they found on BSE that the mammo missed; other half had tumors they missed, but mammo picked up. I'm convinced that mammograms + BSE save lives. Aren't the number of women affected by the proposed guidelines -- the famous 3% -- comparable to the total number of people affected by some of the rare diseases. Yet would anyone recommend discontinuing treatment for a rare disease simply because of the cost? Makes no sense to me. When they point to better survival rates and says it's because of better treatment, how can they separate early detection from better treatment. Isn't it the cornerstone? I don't get the logic.
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Rachael Glassey 20
My Mother was diagnosed at 35 and then diagnosed terminal at 39, died at age 40 leaving behind 2 teenage children, 15 and 17 (whom had child of 1year) and a 10 year old!
It is more and more common these days for women under 40 to be diagnosed with breast cancer so raising the age at which women can get free mammograms is absurd!
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Jackie Allen- diagnosed at age 46 by digital mammogram.
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Kathleen Kleine - Diagnosed at age 50 by digital mammogram. Clear mammogram 18 months earlier. Stage 2.
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IDC diagnosed at age 38
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Linda Cohen
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ALL women in their 40's should get ANNUAL mammograms. I was diagnosed at age 47 and had absolutely no family history. Now I fear for my daughters who should get mammograms AT LEAST at age 40 and probably should start at age 30, but this study could make them wait until they are 50 -- Not fair, Not wise, Not right! These recommendations are dangerous and potentially lethal to the women of American.
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My cousin Bonnie died at age 47 in 1974, after two separate mastectomy surgeries because no one was talking about early diagnosis. If she had been getting a mammogram at 40 and each year after, her four sons would not have had to grow up without their mother.
My Mother's first breast cancer was found by mammogram at age 68. Her second breast cancer was found by mammogram at age 80: 12 years after the first, so they had been considering stopping her mammograms. So glad my old Navy Nurse mom didn't listen!
My cancer was found when I was 50 by BREAST SELF EXAM - so I know it's important. Even the follow-up Mammogram could not see it, only the ultrasound. Then they didn't get clear margins the first time on the IDC so the second surgery found a non-invasive ductal which they thought would have become invasive soon, given the nature of the adjacent tumor.
God, give us wisdom to know that "Guidelines" are not meant to cover every case, and COURAGE to take our case through review when we don't fit the guidelines. AND please bestow discernment on all the people who are considering changes to their own mammography policy, so that more women will not be exposed to the horrible death of my cousin Bonnie, or the excruciating treatments that my friends Dianne and Nancy have had to endure. Amen.
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Diagnosed at age 55 by digital mammogram.
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Jessica Mayle
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Although I was not diagnosed until I was 57 (no family history and my bs said it had been there for 7 to 10 years) the mamo's need to stay as they are if not earlier, I worry so about my daughters.
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dx april2008 age 44 (almost 45)
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Kathy L. 53. My GYN found the lump which did not show on the mammogram, but was clear on the sonogram. Women should routinely have both a mammogram and a sonogram.
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Stephanie Hampton >>55 DCIS only this year's mamms caught it, no family HX
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ROBBINJAYE
Diagnosed at 41
Stage IIA IDC
No family history.
...
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Kriemhildle Mueller - please add my name to your list of signatures
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Paula Holstein
Found my lump doing self exam... I had just turned 46.
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While my cancer was diagnosed later in life, my sister had hers diagnosed at age 44 after a routine mammogram. Mine was diagnosed in an early stage by digital mammography and neither of us had any symptoms. I'd hate to have my daughter and nieces (in their late 30's)denied mammograms in their forties; it scares me that they could be diagnosed too late. Please don't change the guidelines!
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Martha Dean diagnosed at age 43. No history, had seen my OBGYN and she did not feel it. Found on my mammogram. Very large tumor and 2 lymph nodes involved. Saw an interview where the commentator said we have to "take the emotion" out it. Tell that to my son and husband. My son was three when I was diagnosed.
I'm alive because of my mammogram!
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Kara, currently age 36
Dx age 35 stage IV; yes to family history.
Baseline mammos should be done at least age 25 with insurance covering it 100%. They will pay for cancer treatment, but not preventative measures? What the heck is wrong with this picture?
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I found my lump on my own at age 38, is was high and my dr. told me it was a rib bone, gave me a script for mamo. When I made my appt. the girl told me to request a scrip for Ultra Sound, that Dr make the mistake all the time. Stage IIA, 1 lymph node, caught it just in time, imagine if I had waited until 40 to get a mamo! 5 years cancer free.
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Mammograms: To screen or not to screen?
On November 16th , 2009 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released their new recommendations for screening mammograms. They made four recommendations to decrease breast cancer screening, as below:
- No routine screening mammograms in women 40-49 years old, or 75+.
- Mammograms every 2 years for women 50-74 years old, instead of every year.
- No self breast exams or clinical breast exams.
- Neither digital mammography nor breast MRI.
This announcement left questions in many women's minds. What is the USPSTF? How much authority do they have? Are their guidelines trustworthy? Will my insurance company stop paying for annual mammograms?
The official USPSTF Facts Sheet states that it is convened by the U.S. Public Health Service for the purpose of giving recommendations on preventative medical care. These recommendations are considered the "gold standard" by the U.S. government. This means that insurance companies will no longer have an obligation to cover mammograms for women younger than 50 or older than 74, unless this is separately required by state law. Ohio state law requires mammogram coverage for women 50 or older, but not for women 40-49.
I think this is a disaster for women's health. Since Nixon declared "War Against Cancer" in 1971, we have repeatedly found that early detection saves lives. The best such example is cervical cancer, once a top cancer killer of women. Evita of Argentina died from cervical cancer, as well as Queen Mary of England (cervical or ovarian cancer). Since the advent of Pap smears in 1943, the cervical cancer death rate has dramatically decreased. Similarly, the invention of mammograms in 1966 has allowed doctors to detect breast cancers before reaching a late incurable stage. Since 1990, the breast cancer death rate has decreased every year, with the largest decrease in women age 40-50 years. It is perplexing that the USPSTF would abandon this progress.
Numerous studies have shown that screening mammograms decrease breast cancer death rates. Even the USPSTF report admits this fact, but they claim that the cost and harm of screening tests is not worth preventing a small number of breast cancer deaths. It is my belief that every life is precious, and that every woman deserves the benefits of modern medicine. Every woman should be educated about the importance of screening tests and early detection of cancer.
Of course no test is perfect, any screening exam will have false negative and false positive readings. There is even a type of breast cancer called "Lobular Carcinoma" that is notoriously difficult to detect on mammography. That's why I encourage all women to do Breast Self-Exams (BSE). It is most critical for ladies to intimately "know thy breast". If you notice a change such as a lump, nipple retraction/discharge, skin dimpling or thickening you should tell your doctor.
Breast exams and mammography may detect "false positive" findings - abnormalities that are harmless. This may cause doctors to perform unnecessary biopsies, with the associated emotional stress, cost and risk of complications. However, biopsies are usually safe, and women are reassured when the abnormality is found to be benign.
Some people are worried about the radiation exposure from mammograms. Much research has been done on this topic, especially in younger women. It is believed that approximately 50 lives are saved by early detection of breast cancer for every death caused by radiation-induced cancer. Radiation exposure should not be a reason to avoid mammography.
Other tests including breast ultrasound and breast MRI can be used to complement mammography. However, these tests are not as well studied as mammograms, and MRI is relatively difficult and expensive. Breast MRI may be helpful for younger women, patients with hereditary breast cancer or a known history of breast cancer, but it is not appropriate for routine screening.
One major criticism of the USPSTF is that their discussion of screening mammograms did not include the specialists who actually read mammograms and treat cancer. Since the new recommendations were released, the American Cancer Society (ACS), American College of Radiology (ACR), and Society for Breast Imaging (SBI) have denounced their findings and called for the report to be rescinded.
In summary, I urge all women to continue routine screening mammograms every year starting at age 40. Those with multiple family members with breast or ovarian cancer should consider mammography at age 35 or even earlier. Mammograms are not perfect and can miss cancers, so I also urge all women to perform self breast exams. It would be tragic for insurance companies to follow the new guidelines and deny screening mammograms for women younger than 40 or older then 75. If that's the case, our progress on breast cancer will face a major setback!
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Charlotte Miller, Diagnosed at age 47. I had no symptoms. My annual mammogram revealed my cancer early enough to save my life as it had already spread to my lymph nodes in such a short time.
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I was 45 when my mom was dying of ovarian cancer and doctors discovered that I'm BRCA positive. Women need early detection. Lots are affected by BC before 50. I had prophylactic OOPH and BMX as a result of the early screening.
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I am signing this petition for my friend Carol Husak who lives with stage lllc breast cancer and also for my grandmother and three aunt's who had the "unnecessary" screening, who were dx'ed early enough and fully recovered from breast cancer. My grandmother survived for 20+ years. My aunts are 5+ years survivors.
Early screening will save lives and it is important to voice your opinion and make decisions about your own health. No one should be allowed to decide for you what is necessary and what isn't.
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Liz Robbins - I've lost 2 friends to breast cancer and have a few more friends who are breast cancer survivors, one of them having survived twice - cancers were 12 years apart.
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LuAnn C. diagnosed with DCIS from a routine yearly mammo at age 49 (I had NO lump) thanks to my trek each year since age 40 this mammo saved my life!!!
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Sorry, but soliciting is out of place and not welcome here.
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