Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past six months, you know that health-care plans and costs have headed up the most recent news stories.
Depending on your age, insurance status, and income, you may or may not think these changes will affect you. But in November 2009, a government task force said that most women had no need of getting a mammogram until age 50 and even then only every other year.
Just like every hot topic in the news, this government announcement has caused some controversy. Although the American Cancer Society stands by its long-time recommendation that women should get a mammogram regularly after age 40, the fact remains that most breast cancer cases occur in women 50 and older. Medical groups seem to differ on when a woman should start getting mammograms and how often.
Several medical professionals agree with the cancer society’s notion of starting screenings at age 40. Among them are the American College of Radiology’s Dr. Carol Lee and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Dr. Hal Lawrence who think that women of this age deserve the right to screenings as well.
On the flip side, some agree with the government’s panel of doctors and scientists that early screening may actually be harmful by causing too many false alarms and unnecessary biopsies. In fact, Dr. Amy Abernethy of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center does not plan on having another mammogram herself for another nine years, when she will turn 50.
According to executive director Barbara Brenner, the San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Action advocacy group only supports women having mammogram screenings after they go through menopause.
Then there are those who choose to stick with routine checkups for women 40 and over, but who also find good in the government report on mammograms. For instance, Nancy Brinker who founded the advocacy organization Susan G. Komen for the Cure views this as an opportunity for activism. She sees this as a call for donors, researchers, and the government to offer a less expensive—yet more effective—way of screening women for breast cancer.
However, these new federal guidelines do not apply to special cases that would cause a woman to need a mammogram earlier or more often. The information below gives important tips about breast cancer risk factors.
*Keep yourself informed.
According to the National Cancer Institute, common factors that put a woman at a higher risk for developing breast cancer include genetic alterations, a previous diagnosis of breast cancer—personally or in a family member—and previous radiation therapy on the chest area.
*Become proactive.
Fortunately, living a healthy lifestyle can help control some of the other factors, such as obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption.
Despite all the differences, medical professionals agree on the fact that mammograms do save lives and are the best detection device we have. Research shows no results of self-breast exams helping to saving more lives from breast cancer, which is why medical groups no longer strongly push the practice.
So make it a priority to go for a mammogram screening when it is recommended that you do so based on your age and other factors. Also, practice healthy habits to decrease your risk of breast cancer. And remember that regardless of what the government or any cancer or medical specialist might suggest, it all starts with you.
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Just like every hot topic in the news, this government announcement has caused some controversy. Although the American Cancer Society stands by its long-time recommendation that women should get a mammogram regularly after age 40, the fact remains that most breast cancer cases occur in women 50 and older. Medical groups seem to differ on when a woman should start getting mammograms and how often.
