Thanks, Diane, for this lucid and objective posting. Personally, I'm very irritated by the study and recommendations. My breast cancer went to Stage 2 in one year, so waiting another year for a mammogram would likely have resulted in metastisis to lymph nodes or worse. Like you, I have friends who are alive because they were consciencious about annual mamms and/or self exams. I can't imagine a single one of them that I would sacrifice for the sake of cost-saving.
What makes me angry is that, by discrediting self exams, these respected scientists are recommending that women take LESS responsibility for their health, not more. It has taken us decades to empower women on health matters and this seems like a throw back to the dark ages.
And, with the disproportionate increase of breast cancer in overweight women and with obesity on the rise, what does the trend line look like? Were these conclusions made on historical data or factoring in the projections of newly diagnosed breast cancer in women carrying extra weight?
Finally, I think the recommendations are another example of "flash in the pan" reporting, that urgency that some scientists feel to publish their brilliant discoveries without fully understanding the effect on those affected.
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Thanks, Diane, for this lucid and objective posting. Personally, I'm very irritated by the study and recommendations. My breast cancer went to Stage 2 in one year, so waiting another year for a mammogram would likely have resulted in metastisis to lymph nodes or worse. Like you, I have friends who are alive because they were consciencious about annual mamms and/or self exams. I can't imagine a single one of them that I would sacrifice for the sake of cost-saving.
What makes me angry is that, by discrediting self exams, these respected scientists are recommending that women take LESS responsibility for their health, not more. It has taken us decades to empower women on health matters and this seems like a throw back to the dark ages.
And, with the disproportionate increase of breast cancer in overweight women and with obesity on the rise, what does the trend line look like? Were these conclusions made on historical data or factoring in the projections of newly diagnosed breast cancer in women carrying extra weight?
Finally, I think the recommendations are another example of "flash in the pan" reporting, that urgency that some scientists feel to publish their brilliant discoveries without fully understanding the effect on those affected.
Thanks for opening the debate.
November 18, 2009 - 4:04pmThis Comment
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