NEW GUIDELINES FOR MAMMOGRAMS?

This posting is dedicated to and in memory of my late sister-in-law whose birthday is today November 17, and was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was about 40 years old.

This morning I was outraged when I heard the news cycles promoting this propaganda that women should not be tested for mammograms until fifty. They just keep chipping away at the important, core quality of life measures we need access to. These new guidelines come at a disturbing and suspicious time with all the chaos going on with the health care reform debate. Is this a trade off for the politicians not to pursue other options in the bill they have come so close to approving? I am also sure the insurance companies will use this "good news" as leverage to deny payment for testing even though a woman feels the need to have one if not for anything else but a sense of psychological well being.

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Unfortunately, I have known several women under age 40 whose lives were devastated with the words, "your films look suspicious, you need to come in for further testing". I've heard too many stories of women even younger who found a lump, went through chemo, radiation, mastectomy, all the heartbreaking treatments that would terrify any woman no matter what her age. I am older than fifty and began my mammograms at 40. Quite a few friends my age were diagnosed through early detection. Most are still alive, but unfortunately my heart still is broken at the loss of a few I cared for deeply.

This news is also disturbing to me as I have many younger cousins, and know so many other young women who may be effected by this new determination. Do not be fooled, these guidelines are only in place to drastically reduce the cost of medical care at the expense of us all. I would hate to hear of any young lady who believes this is not an important issue, and in addition to that not even do the monthly self breast exam and then find out when it's too late the prospects of a devastating fate that could have been minimized. It is for the above reasons and so many more that each of us need to fight for the type of health care reform needed to assure us living as healthy a life as possible.

Please don't just let this happen and not find a way to become proactive by making your concerns and outrage known. Another terrible aspect of the vicious cycle of playing Russian roulette with our lives is that for most, health insurance is contingent upon being employed. We all are aware of the dire statistics in the job market now, so this is an even more devastating time to change the guidelines. Then there are those whose job does not even offer health insurance and are unable to afford coverage.

DON'T ALLOW THE LOBBYIST FOR THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO HAVE A RUNAWAY VICTORY. TALK TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS INTO TAKING ACTION THAT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE, THEIR LIFE, OR THE LIFE OF SOMEONE YOU/THEY LOVE DEARLY. Please don't think you can't do anything, just initiate some type of action to try and make a difference.

What's next?  I don't know. I do know if we don't  become more proactive when issues that effect our lives are and placed in jeopardy, tomorrow will come and it surely will be too late for anything worthwhile to be done. GOD BLESS! (c) IcyPearl