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.
Very disappointing! My mammogram saved my life! I was stage 1, had a lumpectomy and chemo. I am so lucky and greatful for the mammogram. If I did not have it done I would have had stage 4 Breast Cancer and probably passed away. The chemo was easy and mild because we caught it early. I ran everyday and did not miss a day of work.
I agree the money should go towards research, however; opting out of a mammogram is committing suicide and leaving your children motherless and your family having a dead sister, wife or daughter. I would opt for the mammogram so I could raise my children. You should rethink about your thoughts. I pray that you will change he your mind. You are s smart woman, act like one.
I find your stance appalling I use YOUR catalog to sell women on empowering themselves and buy your bras for post procedure support. Who would not want to face their risk clear eyed with as much knowledge as possible? Are you on the side of those who say our system is imperfect so let’s spare the weaker sex anxiety about a biopsy that half the time is benign? Do you really believe that we can treat advanced breast cancer (discovered on self exam) as well as we can early breast cancer (discovered on mammogram)? Sure the dx and treatment are imperfect, but as #s of women with breast cancer increase, cures and survival with disease are increasing. Lifestyle is the answer to prevention and Title 9 Sports has been a great example. I am saddened by your essay
Thank you for voicing your opinion! Brave and heartfelt sentiments, I couldn’t agree with you more. I am rather tired of having my doctor fear monger every possible diagnosis and push medications for things that can easily be “cured” by reducing my stress, eating well and reducing exposure to toxic chemicals in my foods, garments and household items. Before anyone reads me the riot act, I can tell you that I have cured my asthma, depression, anxiety and irritable bowl by doing what I have suggested. No pharmaceuticals, but a few additional alternatives like acupuncture, homeopathic remedies and mindfulness meditation. I have never been healthier in my life.
This new attitude of righteous medicine is concerning. When I began working in the medical field (30 years ago!), it was not only physicians, but all health care workers that lived the Hippocratic Oath. Now, if a patient has a different opinion or belief, they are castigated and shamed. It is quickly becoming clear that if we don’t stand up to it, our ability to choose how we approach our own health will soon be overridden. You, doctor, are there to guide and treat according to my desires,wishes and beliefs. And g-d please help the politician who thinks that they can make that choice for me as well. After all,I am a bio-individual, NOT a statistic. I am highly capable of making my own decisions on how I want to be in health or illness. Let’s make some noise and change this tide!
Missy,
I do not appreciate your use of my email address for you to get on your soapbox and present this misguided view that can potentially influence someone to make the wrong choice regarding their health.
I know many women whose lives have been saved by early detection – their breast cancer found by mammograms and self exams.
I have also lost friends and family members because they didn’t do any of those things.
Right now I have a friend suffering with stage 4 breast cancer…and so, we cook soup and bring meals and drive and hug and support and care. Yes lots of support and love does exist.
As you say, your choice not to have a mammogram is personal.
You should have kept it that way.
AMEN! I couldn’t have said it better, I am “pinked out” and sick and tired of the fear tactics. I just can’t buy into the idea that radiating my breasts every year is a great idea. And, yes, as missy pointed out, the reduction in breast cancer mortality is due to discontinuing HRT. I’m 55 and have accepted menopause and all its unpleasantries as part of life. If God wanted us to be flooded with estrogen our entire life , we would continue to produce estrogen. Artificially supplementing it never seemed like a good idea to me, and it didn’t prevent my mother from a fatal heart attack at 70.
Declining to have a mammogram in no way increases research in finding a cure, does not positively impact morbidity and is putting your own life at risk. Ask any woman dying of breast cancer if they wish they had “opted out” of their mammogram. Breast cancer doesn’t need scare tactics… It IS scary. HRT doesn’t “cause” cancer, it fertilizes it. I pray to God that no one reads this and follows you in your endeavor. Can you live without regret if you find a breast cancer after it has spread and is incurable because you opted out of a mammogram, which would likely have found it earlier? Your company encourages people to be healthy and have a zeal for living, this decision is the antithesis of the company’s philosophy. Please, reconsider your decision regarding mammograms and put your efforts into lobbying for more research dollars and less marketing dollars.
Missy, I am equally frustrated with the state of women’s health care and I appreciate you taking an action. I also struggle with the pink wash that breast cancer awareness seems to have become. Having said that, I benefited greatly from a mammogram that caught my cancer when it was small and in an early stage. There is no history of breast cancer in my family. In this instance, I am not convinced that your stance is going to produce the result you want without risk to you and your family. I think raising the issue for debate is productive, but I hope you reconsider.
I agree with this whole heartedly!
I am a 10 year cancer survivor that was diagnosed through a mammogram, my very first mammogram. I had no family history of breast cancer,never took hormones and did all the “right” things to keep myself healthy. Without having a mammogram, my cancer would probably not have been discovered until it was too late for life saving treatment. Where are the statistics that support you statement that there has not been an improvement in mortality rates. Breast cancer used to be a death sentence. I plan on living a very long life as a survivor because of early detection and an aggressive treatment plan by my team of Doctors. I know everyone has to do what is right for themselves, but not taking advantage of tests that have been proven to save lives does not make sense to me. Every women’s decision to have a mammogram or not should be with their Doctor’s guidance and not as part of a persuasive musing. Thanks for putting together great catalogs but use your Dr. for the best medical advice.
In order to fend off the added distraction of an undetected cancer gone wild, I will gladly have the mammograms, and if need be, biopsies and mastectomies. I am surprised by your letter, Missy Park, because it is out of character when compared to your life embracing kick ass clothing company that you founded. It wasn’t until my early 50’s that I discovered the Title 9 catalogue for the first time. Models with small breasts sporting “not a bomber” bras. Models small breasted like me, blazing a sexy bright trail through the all the darkness that had gone before. Your catalogue promotes a fierce love of beauty and life, and helps us celebrate ourselves, and makes us look better and therefore, feel better! The writers at Title 9 stamp out fear. Let’s face reality straight on, accentuate the positive, wear clothes that look and feel good, laugh in the face of danger…and, yes, send cancer back on the dark horse it rode in on!