tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644480353071921597.post3967226505452405290..comments2009-12-11T11:45:36.557-05:00Lead Physician: Ponce Primary Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706824618947286575noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644480353071921597.post-91655273518704311432009-12-07T20:20:20.863-05:002009-12-07T20:20:20.863-05:00Appreciate your opinion on this, Chad. Lots of emotion can obscure what facts there are. I'm one of those who started having mammograms WAY too early (age 35!) for no good reason. I've suffered through two biopsies (negative). The condition that prompted the first one they don't even biopsy for any more. Reading mammograms is an evolving art. Lots of mental anguish (and expense) from those biopsies--not a trivial thing.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06532392877871972171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644480353071921597.post-59104639307106573692009-11-22T08:23:51.186-05:002009-11-22T08:23:51.186-05:00Thanks for tackling this subject. It is easy to say with issues such as this "if it saves one life it is worth it". Unfortunatley, that is not always doable. At what cost does it really have? Does it tax (no pun intended) the insurance company costs, therefore driving up premiums, to a point that x number of families then can not afford coverage?Clinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17642427478079871251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644480353071921597.post-16012471290030417152009-11-19T15:29:50.502-05:002009-11-19T15:29:50.502-05:00Thanks Jo. One of the issues buried in this is a technical one about the nature of early breast cancer. Breast cancer in younger patients, while rare compared to older patients, is often more aggressive. Ironically, mammogram is not as good of a screening test for rapidly growing cancer as it can miss very small tumors that can become a real problem before the next annual mammogram. The result is that patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50 often survive or don't regardless of whether their cancer was detected by mammogram or first presented with pain or other symptoms. This framework applies to other screenings (e.g. prostate screening for men) in which unfortunately our screening tools are best at detecting the least aggressive forms of the disease.Lead Physician: Ponce Preventive Carehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706824618947286575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644480353071921597.post-42715790158762052882009-11-19T13:06:34.728-05:002009-11-19T13:06:34.728-05:00this is very tricky Dr Chad. I have so many women friends reeling at the opinion that over 50 is better. They were diagnosed under the age of 40 and all alive today. If self exams and mammograms are stopped - prevention based on knowledge no longer rules. Not knowing is not acceptable. We have the tools - primitive as they are. I have had an exploratory biopsy. A lump was removed. I see that as being informed and preventing future illness. I don't like the times when I have to admit I should have and could have done something for my own good - but didn't.Jo Giraudo, PhD Holistic Healthnoreply@blogger.com