Breast exam guidelines now call for less testing (beginning of rationing?)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111602822.html ^

[chessplayer]

Women in their 40s should stop routinely having annual mammograms and older women should cut back to one scheduled exam every other year, an influential federal task force has concluded, challenging the use of one of the most common medical tests.

[Redleg Duke]

And so it begins.

[angeliquemb9]

Actually, I have a friend in the mammography field, and they’re discovering that by irradiating women’s breasts so often, they might actually be *causing* some of the cancer that they’re trying to prevent. She’s been railing against the frequency of the tests for years. Apparently they’ve finally decided to slow down the number of tests in order to study it a bit more. Thank goodness, I say!

[hoosier hick]

I kind of wondered about that myself. I thought preventative medicine was the way to go to reduce costs.....

hh

[Scythian]

Volunteerism ? (just kidding)

[Izzy Dunne]

I’m not qualified to give an opinion on the validity of the recommendations, but the trouble with ObamaCare is that it raises the question in my mind (and in millions of others, no doubt) of whether this is based on sound medical reasoning, or simply financial considerations.

[Kimberly GG]

So much for “preventative medicine” in the context of cost savings.

[Scythian]

Actually, in all honestly, I can point you to articles from 5 years ago stating that they should be stopped, they don’t help, and actually harm the breast, this is not an Obama thing ...

[crescen7]

This may be the most blatant example of Orwellian “double think” yet. For years we’ve heard nothing other than “early detection” and earlier and more frequent testing.

Now, on a dime - the advice is absolutely reversed.

What’s next ?

Smoking as preventative health?

[Sacajaweau]

I listened to the speeches by "the experts". Boy, I bet Obama gives them a big raise in their next paycheck...They almost sounded like they were convinced themselves of this recommendation.

I'm waiting for the other shoe....the one that says "If you want it earlier, you pay for it..unless you're black, hispanic...or a terrorist.

[Izzy Dunne]

I can point you to articles from 5 years ago stating that they should be stopped

Perhaps so, but my point is that EVERYTHING is now more dubious because there is potentially another reason behind it.

[workerbee]

There is no explanation for telling women not to bother with self-exams. Could it be that part of rationing care means delaying treatment as well?

To think these study results were not influenced by the bottom line mentality defies belief, IMO.

[pitviper68]

Agreed, yearly mammograms increase breast cancer risk by 1-3%, meaning 10 years of them increases risk by 10%.

Women should consider alternatives, such as THERMOGRAMS.

[east1234]

I know of women in their 30’s who have died of breast cancer. I don’t see how this will help prevent that.

[Neoliberalnot]

This is the set-up for medical care rationing for the serfs that will be forced into govt run treatment centers. We have to accomodate all the illegals that will receive the same care while the politicians will receive the care for the nobles. If we, as taxpayers, sit back and tolerate this tyranny you can bet more is to come.

[maddog55]

[DannyTN]

When breast examines are rationed, women will have their breasts examined by seedy characters in back rooms operating outside the law.

[Notary Sojac]

Maybe it’s time for me to consider a career change.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

And I want those women, the good ones, to know that I am there for them.

[libbytarian]

I have been doing self exams since 1980 when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I did my monthly self exam in Dec. 2004 and found an area that seemed to be thicker than the surrounding area. I had a mammogram in Feb 2005 and it was clear. I called my OBGYN and told her that I wanted more tests. She was reluctant but agreed since I had a rather strong family history of breast cancer. I lost my mother, an aunt and two first cousins to breast cancer.

I had a breast biopsy in March 2005 which indicated that I had invasive lobular cancer. The cancer was the size of an egg. My radiologist told me that lobular breast cancer is 15% of the breast cancers and does not show up on a mammogram. He also said that looking for cancer with a mammogram on women with dense and or large breasts is like looking for a snowman in a blizzard.

I cannot imagine why anyone would say breast self exams are not necessary. I am not sure that I would still be here if I had not made a habit of examining my breasts. Libby