"Unconscionable decisions about the value of human life"
Nov/Friday/2009 11:52 AM Filed in: Breast
cancer
When I saw the headlines in USA Today on Tuesday
morning (Nov. 17), "New focus in breast cancer
screening-Report: most don't need tests until 50" I
was in shock. I was in Washington DC attending a
cancer event and caught the headlines on the way out
the door. I was outraged, to put it mildly, and
couldn't believe what I was reading. It went against
every expert opinion or study I had come to know and
trust.
After my diagnosis of breast cancer in 2004, I spent a lot of time researching how we detect breast cancer, because I had four large tumors that were not visible on a mammogram AND I was not at risk. I spoke to leading researchers at major institutions and created a web site to share what I had learned with their help. Before I go any further, just let me say that the mammogram picked up important changes that led to self breast exam, which led to further imaging with ultrasound, and eventually MRI. You can read more of those details in my story, but for this blog I just want to share what I've learned this week from those experts.
In summary, the American College of Radiology, made up of professionals in the field of imaging, are calling for the guidelines from USPSTF to be rescinded (see statement here). A great interview with Dr. Daniel Kopans from Harvard Medical School on CNN (transcript here), said he knew all the experts and researchers in the field around the world and he didn't know any of these "experts" who developed the guidelines. Personally, I want to know how this could happen. How can we let people who are not the experts in detecting and treating cancer, set guidelines that have such far reaching importance?
Lest you think it will all be resolved because major cancer institutions, organizations, and oncology professionals are against them, the damage has been done. Women were canceling mammography appointments at 3x the normal rate and one woman canceled her surgery for removing a breast cancer, because she somehow felt it must not have been significant because she was in her 40's!!! ?????? Makes no sense, but that's what happened as reported on ABC (see video of report here). ACR reports that thousands of women will die needlessly or have to go through aggressive treatment because the cancer was not detected early, because of these guidelines. See their response here that discusses in detail the problems with the USPSTF's new guidelines. It includes their statement about the recommendations making "unconscionable decisions about the value of human life".
Dr. Etta Pisano, a leading researcher in the field, discusses the issues quite rationally in thisYouTube video.
What can you do? It will take years and much work to reverse the damage done. More than that, your right to have a mammogram in your 40's could be impacted if insurance companies decide to take on these guidelines. Call your congressmen (or Health and Human Services Secretary office) to ask for these guidelines to be rescinded. It only takes a one minute phone call. You can find your representatives at these links for the senate and house SENATE and HOUSE .
Addendum to this blog as of Sunday Nov. 22 : If you don't think it's possible for this to become law, listen to This Week on ABC. The details of the bill are spelled out and debated on the show. To see the full piece (not their edited version for web-which left out the most important part) click on Watch: Exclusive Health Care Debate in the scrolling on the top, then click on the 11-22-09 show. It wouldn't let me do a URL for the video.
Main link is here Once it loads, fast forward to -8.00 minutes to hear.
To learn more about the importance of partnering with your doctor to detect cancer early click here ...
After my diagnosis of breast cancer in 2004, I spent a lot of time researching how we detect breast cancer, because I had four large tumors that were not visible on a mammogram AND I was not at risk. I spoke to leading researchers at major institutions and created a web site to share what I had learned with their help. Before I go any further, just let me say that the mammogram picked up important changes that led to self breast exam, which led to further imaging with ultrasound, and eventually MRI. You can read more of those details in my story, but for this blog I just want to share what I've learned this week from those experts.
In summary, the American College of Radiology, made up of professionals in the field of imaging, are calling for the guidelines from USPSTF to be rescinded (see statement here). A great interview with Dr. Daniel Kopans from Harvard Medical School on CNN (transcript here), said he knew all the experts and researchers in the field around the world and he didn't know any of these "experts" who developed the guidelines. Personally, I want to know how this could happen. How can we let people who are not the experts in detecting and treating cancer, set guidelines that have such far reaching importance?
Lest you think it will all be resolved because major cancer institutions, organizations, and oncology professionals are against them, the damage has been done. Women were canceling mammography appointments at 3x the normal rate and one woman canceled her surgery for removing a breast cancer, because she somehow felt it must not have been significant because she was in her 40's!!! ?????? Makes no sense, but that's what happened as reported on ABC (see video of report here). ACR reports that thousands of women will die needlessly or have to go through aggressive treatment because the cancer was not detected early, because of these guidelines. See their response here that discusses in detail the problems with the USPSTF's new guidelines. It includes their statement about the recommendations making "unconscionable decisions about the value of human life".
Dr. Etta Pisano, a leading researcher in the field, discusses the issues quite rationally in thisYouTube video.
What can you do? It will take years and much work to reverse the damage done. More than that, your right to have a mammogram in your 40's could be impacted if insurance companies decide to take on these guidelines. Call your congressmen (or Health and Human Services Secretary office) to ask for these guidelines to be rescinded. It only takes a one minute phone call. You can find your representatives at these links for the senate and house SENATE and HOUSE .
Addendum to this blog as of Sunday Nov. 22 : If you don't think it's possible for this to become law, listen to This Week on ABC. The details of the bill are spelled out and debated on the show. To see the full piece (not their edited version for web-which left out the most important part) click on Watch: Exclusive Health Care Debate in the scrolling on the top, then click on the 11-22-09 show. It wouldn't let me do a URL for the video.
Main link is here Once it loads, fast forward to -8.00 minutes to hear.
To learn more about the importance of partnering with your doctor to detect cancer early click here ...