Comments on: Mammogram Rate Declining, Study Suggests

Finds First-Ever Drop In U.S., As Much As 4 Percent, In Women 40 And Older

This is pure spin off the research recently published in the much more prestigious and important Annals of Internal Medicine, by the American College of Physicians, showing that mammography screening for women under 40 is not beneficial and may even be harmful. The harmful effects may include exposure to radiation, unnecessary biopsies, surgery, and chemotherapy and it's recommended that women and their physicians make this decision on a case-by-case basis. CBS News should have presented the other side of this story and should not have allowed Dr. Blackwood to make up "scary" theoretical trends which have no basis in fact.

[godofredo29]

Yeah, just to respond to tngreen, if testicular ultrasounds were promoted the way mammograms are (i.e., recommended for men in at risk groups, such as men up to 25), the cure rate would be almost 100%. The problem? It would cost money and we know ultrasounds are already cheaper than dirt. When it comes to men's health, it's the Titanic model of health care that applies.

[erasmus6]

The reason why there is probably less breast cancer IS because less people are going for mammograms! Getting a mammogram is RADIATION! Radiation causes cancer. Not only that it isn't good how they squish the breasts, that could cause problems also. In Canada we all have healthcare so it doesn't cost us anything to get a mammogram, but I don't care, I still am not going to get one!

[cindycpa]

Funny...I just returned to work from my annual mammogram about an hour ago. Very slight discomfort, if any...well worth the peace of mind. Want to be rid of the breast compression? Answer: adaptation of MRI equipment solely dedicated to diagnosing breast cancer. According to the technician I spoke with this morning, a mammogram costs between $150-$200 while an MRI costs $2K. If we pressure manufacturers to develop MRI equipment dedicated solely to breast cancer diagnosis, the equipment costs would be reduced thereby enticing our insurance companies to pay for the less invasive, more accurate MRI procedure.

[cindycpa]

Funny...I just returned to work from my annual mammogram about an hour ago. Very slight discomfort, if any...well worth the peace of mind. Want to be rid of the breast compression? Answer: adaptation of MRI equipment solely dedicated to diagnosing breast cancer. According to the technician I spoke with this morning, a mammogram costs between $150-$200 while an MRI costs $2K. If we pressure manufacturers to develop MRI equipment dedicated solely to breast cancer diagnosis, the equipment costs would be reduced thereby enticing our insurance companies to pay for the less invasive, more accurate MRI procedure.

[neenga]

My regular mammogram facility sent a letter saying they no longer accept United Health Care plans, so I either need to grab my records from this place and go someplace new, or pay out of pocket. I don't see that insurance companies or radiologists do much to encourage mammograms.

And as you all say, it is a humiliating, painful experience. Once men are tested similarly for testicular cancer, the technology will change

[tngreen]

Thank you ladies! I have always said that when they start using those @#$%* things to check for testicular cancer, you will have a new technology within 6 months. It is good to hear from others who feel the same way. What kind of *** came up with this thing anyway? My doctor tricked me into getting one when I turned 40. The next time I saw him I told him that I would get the next one in another 40 years.

[ajaxrose1]

As if one invasive test every year for our "own good" isn't enough, they added another one. If they're so concerned about it then they need to come up with a less painful and inconvenient way to do it. The people I know who've had breast cancer (several, by the way) have ALL found it on their own, one was a full week AFTER she'd gotten the "all clear" from the stupid mammogram. Personally, I think it's just another way to put money into the pockets of companies that own the technology. And I agree, if there's ever a recommendation that men get their "personals" squashed all to heck to check them out, then things MIGHT change. Not too likely, though.

[ajaxrose1]

As if one invasive test every year for our "own good" isn't enough, they added another one. If they're so concerned about it then they need to come up with a less painful and inconvenient way to do it. The people I know who've had breast cancer (several, by the way) have ALL found it on their own, one was a full week AFTER she'd been cleared by the stupid mammogram. Personally, I think it's just another way to put money into the pockets of companies that own the technology. And I agree, if there's ever a recommendation that men get their "personals" squashed all to heck to check them out, then things MIGHT change. Not too likely, though.

[ajaxrose1]

As if one invasive test every year for our "own good" isn't enough, they added another one. If they're so concerned about it then they need to come up with a less painful and inconvenient way to do it. The people I know who've had breast cancer (several, by the way) have ALL found it on their own, one was a full week AFTER she'd been cleared by the stupid mammogram. Personally, I think it's just another way to put money into the pockets of companies that own the technology. And I agree, if there's ever a recommendation that men get their "personals" squashed all to heck to check them out, then things MIGHT change. Not too likely, though.