A Precursor to Obamacare
Submitted by NewPatriot on Wed, 11/18/2009 - 10:19
Mammograms at 50 Instead of 40? New Guidelines Controversial
When should a woman get her first mammogram?
The automatic answer for me and for most women I know has been as soon as she turns 40.
But on Monday, the federal government released new guidelines pushing the recommended age from 40 to 50, citing a higher instance of false positives for women who get the breast exam between 40 and 49 and a lower overall risk of breast cancer -- one in 69 at age 40, compared to one in 42 at 50.
The new guidelines also state breast self-examination should no longer be taught because it is ineffective in reducing the number of deaths from breast cancer.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/11/17/when-do-i-get-my-mam...
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My sister...diagnosed @ 41 with breast cancer.
My maternal aunt died of same, at age 43. I was able to start getting mamo's in my 30's due to this family history, and know many women like myself. I'm calling Bull Sh*t on these new guidelines.
Schnecksville, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
That was the first thought I had
when I heard this on the news yesterday. That they are simply going to make sure things are diagnosed later so they can "justify" denying treatment.
More Than Deny Treatment
I think it also has to do with reducing costs. the government findings also suggest having a mammogram every two years instead of every year. Also, my wife just went to the OB-GYN for a pap-smear and they told her she didn't need to come back for two years - "new guidelines" she was told... She used to work as the lab administrator for a very large hospital in Baltimore, she told them that she would see them in a year.
This article in the New York Times seems to tilt more towards the government study (no surprise), but has an interesting graphic that you can clearly see that if you consider costs on this graphic - health care will save a ton of money...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/health/18mammogram.html
Another interesting thing my wife noticed, there were no Oncologists on the government's panel producing these new guidelines...
"..no Oncologists on the government's panel.."
That is interesting.
none of whom are oncologists...
"The task force is composed of 16 health care experts, none of whom are oncologists. The group reviews medical data and bases recommendations on effectiveness and risks involved."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/16/mammography.recommendat...