Ok so when was it? A year or two ago when “experts” recommended that we NOT have mammograms routinely between 40 and 49 and only biennial screening 50- 74?
May I once again say that if I or my doctors had heeded that advice, I could be dead? Or headed there?
Now guidelines have come out annual mammograms are now once again recommended for women 40 and up. Well duhhhhh. Sorry, this just all pisses me off because I am sick of politicians and lobbyists and whomever telling women how to deal with their bodies. It shouldn’t be this hard.
Today is just another day in mammogram musical chairs. And the fact of the matter is many breast cancers do NOT show up on routine mammography and you have to push to get other tests approved.
We need routine mammograms AND affordable access to other diagnostics – breast MRIs, breast ultrasounds, and that spiffy new 3D thing which seems to be loose in Europe from Siemens.
Yes, I am hot and cranky as it is Africa hot outside, but it is the truth that women deserve the best healthcare possible. It’s not like men can procreate on their own, can they?
Tell your elected officials (male, female, android) enough is enough – when it comes to women’s bodies, give us the right to choose what to do.
I will post links below. Also, I spoke to another friend today whom has gone through 2 bouts of ductal and is at present cancer-free. She is amazing and sweet and positive. She was stage 4 and right now they can find nothing, nan, zip, zilch and may I say YAY!!! She told me to check out Tumeric after I finish radiation – a doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering told her about it. I think I am going to look into it.
I believe in alternative treatments in conjunction with traditional medicines – however, I would not suggest any of that without consulting with doctors.
Alrighty, that is all from me today – I am so bloody hot and I wish it would rain. To follow are links about the new mammogram guidelines. I REALLY think that women everywhere however should contact our elected officials to demand that they stop screwing around with our breast health and everything else. Do it for the girls ladies, do it for the girls….
| For Release: | July 20, 2011 |
Washington, DC— Due to the high incidence of breast cancer in the US and the potential to reduce deaths from it when caught early, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College) today issued new breast cancer screening guidelines that recommend mammography screening be offered annually to women beginning at age 40. Previous College guidelines recommended mammograms every one to two years starting at age 40 and annually beginning at age 50.
According to Jennifer Griffin, MD, MPH, who co-authored The College guidelines, the change in mammography screening for women beginning at age 40 is based on three factors: the incidence of breast cancer, the sojourn time for breast cancer growth, and the potential to reduce the number of deaths from it. The time period between when a breast cancer may be detected by a mammogram while it is very small and before it grows big enough to become symptomatic is known as the sojourn time. Although the sojourn time of individual cancers can vary, the greatest predictor is age. Women ages 40-49 have the shortest average sojourn time (2-2.4 years), while women ages 70-74 have the longest average sojourn time (4-4.1 years).
“Although women in their 40s have a lower overall incidence of breast cancer compared with older women, the window to detect tumors before they become symptomatic is shorter, on average,” said Dr. Griffin. The five-year survival rate is 98% for women whose breast cancer tumors are discovered at their earliest stage, before they are palpable and when they are small and confined to the breast. “If women in their 40s have annual mammograms, there is a better chance of detecting and treating the cancer before it has time to spread than if they wait two years between mammograms.”
The College continues to recommend annual clinical breast exams (CBE) for women ages 40 and older, and every one to three years for women ages 20-39. Additionally, The College encourages “breast self-awareness” for women ages 20 and older. Enhanced breast cancer screening, such as more frequent CBEs, annual MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or mammograms before age 40, may be recommended for women at high risk of breast cancer. Breast MRI is not recommended for women at average risk of developing breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of all cancer-related deaths among American women. The incidence of breast cancer in the US declined 2% each year between 1999 and 2006, and deaths from breast cancer have also declined steadily over the past two decades. Evidence suggests the drop in breast cancer rates is most likely due to fewer women getting mammograms and therefore not being diagnosed, as well as a significant drop in women using hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms. “The good news is that fewer women are dying from breast cancer because of earlier detection and improved treatments,” said Gerald F. Joseph, Jr, MD, Vice President for Practice Activities of The College.
The College’s breast cancer screening guidelines also address clinical breast exams and breast self-awareness.
Clinical Breast Exam
Studies on CBEs suggest they can help detect breast cancer early, particularly when used along with mammograms. Thus, The College recommends that women ages 40 and older have an annual CBE performed by their physician. Although the benefit of CBEs isn’t clear for those younger than age 40, The College continues to recommend that women ages 20-39 have a CBE every one to three years.
Breast Self-Awareness
The traditional breast self-exam (BSE) has shifted toward a newer concept called “breast self-awareness.” BSE is performed in a systematic way on a regular basis, typically monthly. Breast self-awareness, on the other hand, is women understanding the normal appearance and feel of their breasts, but without a specific interval or systematic examination technique. The College endorses educating women ages 20 and older regarding breast self-awareness.
“The goal here is for women to be alert to any changes, no matter how small, in their breasts, and report them to their doctor,” said Dr. Griffin. “Although we’ve moved away from routinely recommending BSEs, some women will want to continue doing them and that’s OK.”
According to The College, there is no consensus on the upper age limit for mammograms, although the benefits of screening declines with increasing age compared with the harms of overtreatment. Women ages 75 and older should discuss with their doctor whether to continue getting mammograms, said Dr. Griffin.
Practice Bulletin #122 “Breast Cancer Screening” is published in the August 2011 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.# # #
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College), a 501(c)(3) organization, is the nation’s leading group of physicians providing health care for women. As a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization of approximately 55,000 members, The College strongly advocates for quality health care for women, maintains the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education of its members, promotes patient education, and increases awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women’s health care. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a 501(c)(6) organization, is its companion organization. Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/acognews and at http://www.acog.org.
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