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.
Missy Park, I am SO disappointed that you decided to post this. In your position, you have influence on a huge group of women, some of whom may not be as educated as you, or have time to do the research that you have done, and they may forego a mammogram because they read your title but not your article. I agree that women need to have frank discussions with their physicians. I agree that women need to make informed decisions about their health. But I also believe that there are women who will find it very easy to forego a mammogram because “Missy didn’t get one” without doing the research to decide if that is the right decision for her situation. Personal decisions are personal. I wish you had realized that your Title Nine community shouldn’t have been included in this share.
I actually NEVER comment. I am a breast cancer survivor. I didn’t bother with a mammogram until 47 when friends pressured me. I was stage 3. Lots of treatment. not as good survivor rates had a listen to my docs and had a mammo sooner. SO I have to say b@&& on your plan. Unless you live on another planet you should know detection saves lives!!!
As a physician and former happy customer, I find this post irresponsible. I can only hope you never need the excellent medical care available in the US for breast cancer. I will never purchase anything from your company again.
I can’t believe I took the time to read your ignorant rant. Makes me sick that you feel the need to preach your personal feelings on mammograms to people getting your Title Nine emails. I am a nurse at a Breast Center and I see daily how mammograms save lives. You go ahead and do whatever you want with your own life and risk of breast cancer but keep your uneducated opinions to yourself. I am immediately unsubscribing.
I always appreciate hearing when someone challenges the status quo. I too disagree with the excessively pink ribbon hoopla. If more women knew how little money actually goes to research I think that they would put their energy, voices, and donations into changing that imbalance. Having said that, mammograms are an important tool for prevention as are breast self exams. Let’s take this battle to the next level and focus on the why it is occurring and how to really change the out come. Part of that is to see that all women have access to the health care that they need. This will take more than pink shirts and pamphlets.
I think we should all take control of our health, rather than the pharmaceutical companies, if we take it into our own hands as to what sort of healing or prevention we partake in. Point being, not sure if it’s about whether to test or not. Without the awareness, so many go without any preventative, the more education the more ways we can help catch breast cancer. With that said, everyone should look into more affective ways of detecting, skip the mammogram and go straight to the ultrasounds…of course the bigger fight now is getting insurance to cover it…they rather put you thru the motions of a mammogram then go for the ultrasound. Check out http://www.herscan.com, out of Bellair Bluffs, Florida, the doctor (name slips my mind) and Joan London are trying to get legislature to make insurance companies pay. Meanwhile, look for them when they are in your town next.
Going against groupthink isn’t easy, but I am totally in agreement. Overtesting and doing biopsies can cause problems needlessly, and is not saving lives (see recent research- ny times). Europe is ahead of us on getting rid of mammograms.
I think it’s a good thing for you to put this comment out there to discuss–go girl!
There’s a book, Overdiagnosed, by Welch, that explains lots of these principles in very readable manner for the educated layman. (I have no personal interest in promoting him or his book). I recommend it to all of the people who are critical of decision you’ve made for yourself, and critical of your using this platform to encourage the discussion. Do keep being thoughtful and be willing to reconsider as more information becomes available, screening specificities change and treatments get refined
I wish you the best. However, as founder of a company I am shocked by your comments. Do you want to continue your business? As a business owner myself f, I would never say my true feelings about something that has saved so many lives. I know of several women that are alive today because the cancer was caught during a routine mammogram. Something’s you just don’t say to the public as a founder.
As someone who was just diagnosed with breast cancer I think you are crazy. But please still be vigilant.
I hope you are at least doing self exams regularly. That’s how I found mine.
Wishing you well.