We invite you to join in the conversation by leaving a comment below.
Read More:
“Why Doctors Are Rethinking Breast-Cancer Treatment.” Time Magazine, October 1, 2015.
“Our Feel-Good War on Breast Cancer.” Peggy Orenstein. The New York Times, April 25, 2013.
My sentiments exactly. I reject the popular belief that breasts are ticking time-bombs strapped onto every woman at puberty. No thank you.
Hey, Missy. Long time no see. I happened to read your comments and thought I’d chime in. I had breast cancer, and it was detected by a mammogram. I was only 46, so I wasn’t at the point of considering HRT and I also had no family history. It was caught at Stage 1 and I’ll be celebrating my 17th anniversary in September.
I may be one of the rare cases where a mammogram did the trick. I’ve always admired your willingness to take a position and stand up for it. I think every woman should follow the path she believes in, especially when it comes to her health. Thanks for continuing to lend your financial support to breast cancer research.
Stay happy and healthy!
I have personally opted out of mammograms for the past several years. I have only had one in the past at age 42. I am in the medical field. I have no immediate family history of breast CA. All of the women that I have known that were diagnosed with breast CA within the past 10 years have actually found the lumps themselves upon self examination, despite have regular mammograms. Like the author, it is just my own personal views and experiences that have led me to make this decision.
I would like to back Missy. I also no longer get mammograms. My mother gets a false positive result every time. The clinicians dont seem to care enough to consult her health record before each exam. She has a mole on one breast that appears like a mass on mammogram. She has to have a follow-up ultrasound to identify the mass and get accurate results. I get a false positive result each time because my breast tissue is “more sense than expected” at my age. My last mammogram was at age 50. I also had to have a follow-up ultrasound for accurate results.
So here’s my question to my PCP: why not just do the ultrasound first? Its MUCH less painful! And it’s MORE ACCURATE!
I’ve been told Insurance companies won’t pay for ultrasounds done first because it isn’t deemed the “accepted recommendation” of the national medical association.
Talk to your PCP’s ladies. Get the best test first,
Of course you are welcome to your opinion.Each women must make their own personal choice about mammogram frequency based on their own personal medical and family history of disease.
However, it seems a little irresponsible, as a head of your company, to make such a strong statement against current recommendations by oncologists, gynecologists and the American Cancer Society. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer are also at higher risk. Early detection can be life-saving, (though of course false positives are stressful). Your comments seem to be motivated by anger, discouragement and fear. With your family history, I can understand your fears. A better response might be to do all you can to follow your doctor’s advice in early detection, (maybe even genetic testing), rather than run from this out of fear.
Also, by using such a public forum, remember you may be influencing others who are vulnerable, possibly to make a choice not supported by medical evidence, a choice that may put them at risk.
Only the best educated women in this field are courageous enough to speak out again modern “breast health procedures”. They are NOT in a woman’s best interest. Read Dr. Christiane Northrop.