An influentical federal task force is recommending that mammograms are limited to women over 50, every two years, up to 75 years of age. Most women under 40 don't need regular screenings and women 75 and older don't either. What do you think?

I had heard on the news that it was an independent study with no government involvement so I'll have to read up on that a little more. Regardless, I'm concerned that this will make it harder for women to get their insurance companies to pay for mammograms when they need them, and that these new guidelines will end up causing more deaths from a disease that is curable with early detection. My doctors had recommended I get a baseline mammogram at age 30 due to my family history and the fact I was very full-figured and had a history of fibroid cysts. I wasn't able to get it done until age 32 due to my insurance comany's resistance. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39, and because I had an aggressive, fast growing tumor I doubt I would have lived until the age of 40 if it weren't for doing my self-exams and pushing for both the mammogram and the biopsy after I was repeatedly told it was a high probability of being benign.

Since this news, the HHS has said there would be no change in federal policy regarding mammograms. There has been quite a backlash to the report's recommendations, which does not bode well for the acceptance of comparative effectiveness in healthcare. I am concerned that the public is not aware of the many and varied interests at stake here, and their part in molding opinion, and at times, stirring up unwarranted fear. This is not a new controversy, as in the early '90's there was anger and confusion after a large Canadian study that came up with some similar conclusions. Medical anthropologist, Patricia Kaufert, wrote about the "economic, political, and moral history" of that controversy. Someone today said that the study only showed that screening of women before age 50 saved lives, but "just not enough." For the money, I wonder how many lives could be saved by assuring that all Americans have health coverage? How is that so different? Will we be guided by facts or by emotions, without knowing how these can be manipulated by those who might profit financially?

My problem with the new guidelines is the fact that my insurance company in 1999, would only allow a mammogram every two years when I was 47, In 2000, when I WAS 48, my mammogram was abnormal, and in January 2001, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it was in my nodes. I was a Stage 3B. If I had been able to have gotten my mammogram at age 47 my cancer might have been detected, and the treatment of chemo and radiation might not have been necessary. Research doe not show info about these situations, and the effect that they have upon women.