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Mammogram Recommendations Show the Dangers of Government Run Healthcare

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We need health care reform - doing nothing is not an option.
Congress should be looking out for the people and not health insurance companies.
The worst kind of rationing by Insurance companies is what we have now and its based on profiteering by corporate monopolies. These callous entities will hire any goon to lie about their intentions suggesting its anything other than to rip off consumers.
Don't try to snooker us with this plug for corporate profits while feigning any care about womens' health. Its just like these kook republicans who are scaremongering seniors while previously being opponents of Medicare. Smoke and mirrors - lies and deception.
Lets' not confuse reality with this panel appointed by Bush, loaded with Health Insurance Lobbyists, who used this episode to again try to kill health care reform.

Cindy of IN 5:22PM December 01, 2009

The GOP Congress has indeed become the best Congress money can buy!
Saturday night's Senate Vote Just to have a debate on Healthcare, was a small victory for the "agents of change" (democrats) and reflects very poorly on the state of the Party of No & Fear that they would not even allow a debate on this issue to move forward -- thereby belying the title of being the greatest deliberative body on earth!
It is noteworthy, that in the past, the Party of No & Fear, also fought against Social Security Reform and Medicare, and true to form or color, they are fighting against healthcare reform today! Yes, Social Security and Medicare are subject to abuse and fraud, but that is one of the reforms in the healthcare bill to address this problem! Millions depend on Social Security and Medicare and they are glad that it is there. They want it improved upon not done away with.
The naysayers have even tried to Sabotage the reform by introducing a phony abortion debate (we all know Nancy Pelosi will never allow abortions to be done away with) , and another womens' issue (how time appropriate) was introduced (I smell a rat) into the debate -- that of Mammograms and the fear that we are somehow on our way to healthcare rationing, when we all should know that we are already experiencing healtcare rationing every time someone is denied healthcare because of a Preconceived Condition or some other phony condition like they weigh too much, etc. The aforementioned debates are false and designed to produce fear, to immobilize and to paralyze the masses to do nothing. We must come to recognize that "Fear is the dark ones’ most powerful weapon against the light because the energy of fear not only forms a barrier between the consciousness and the soul, it refuels the darkness to keep it thriving." [Matthews Messages].
We must also recognize that "as money has in the past ministered to personal and family need, so in the future it must minister to group and world need. The time has now come when money must be re-valued and its usefulness channelled into new directions. The voice of the people must prevail, but it must be a people educated in the true values, in the significance of a right culture, and in the need for right human relations. It is therefore essentially a question of right education and correct training in world citizenship – a thing that has not yet been undertaken." [Money, The Medium of Loving Distribution, A Compilation from the books of Alice A Bailey ]
Thank God for the Agents of Change who try to make a difference in the lives of ordinary human beings, whose intentions and Duty are to uplift the conditions of the people and to serve the people.... They try to raise the minimum wage, they try to extend unemployment benefits, they try to make sure there is clean water and clean air, but its hard and there is always a fight from the best Congress money can buy, whose mission is to stall and to obstruct and to incite fear!

Angellight of PA 12:25PM November 23, 2009

Despite assurances that women at high risk would still be able to have mammograms in their 40's, like all other recommendations (in thier favor) insurance companies would no longer cover mammograms for women under 50. Just like colon cancer screening--I'm at high risk, but no payments for colonoscopies because I'm under 50. A friend died at 48 of colon cancer--had all the symptoms, but his insurance wouldn't cover a colonoscopy either. He finally paid for his own, but it was too late.

Peggy of CA 9:09PM November 20, 2009

One size does not fit all any more than all women can wear the identical bra. Individual choice, with the advice of one's own physician, should be the goal. (Would all men care to follow one generalized prostate guideline?) This is from a 13-year survivor who had nine negative biopsies before "the big one"--which was caught early.

Jill of CA 6:41PM November 20, 2009

One size does not fit all any more than all women can wear the identical bra. Individual choice, with the advice of one's own physician, should be the goal. (Would all men care to follow one generalized prostate guideline?) This is from a 13-year survivor who had nine negative biopsies before "the big one"--which was caught early.

Jill of CA 6:41PM November 20, 2009

One size does not fit all any more than all women can wear the identical bra. Individual choice, with the advice of one's own physician, should be the goal. (Would all men care to follow one generalized prostate guideline?) This is from a 13-year survivor who had nine negative biopsies before "the big one"--which was caught early.

Jill of CA 6:40PM November 20, 2009

If I would have had regular mammograms per my internist's recommendation (before age 50 when I was actually diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer), the disease would have been discovered at an earlier stage and would have been much less expensive to treat. As a result of waiting too long to have it detected, I needed to have a costly and disfiguring mastectomy, followed by chemo and then reconstructive surgery. Thankfully I survived and am doing fine 11 years later, but have had to have reconstruction repeated two more times due to capsules forming the first time, and the second time a ruptured implant. Had the cancer been found sooner by an annual mammogram, it could have been treated by a simple lumpectomy with perhaps radiation and I would have been done. The savings would have been vastly greater than the cost of an annual mammogram. I have three daughters, so naturally I am concerned about the higher risk they face of getting breast cancer as well. If they have to wait until age 50 to have screening mammograms, it could very well be too late for them to survive this horrible disease.

Kathy in LA of CA 8:20PM November 19, 2009

With what we have to work with so far, Mammograms are a must at any age. I'm sure advances will be made and better procedures will be adopted. However, what we have now will have to do, and waiting until age fifty is ridiculous. How about teenages who have already had breast cancer? Do they count?. I am a breast cancer survivor, and believe me, you don't want it. Chemotherapy is the absolute worse, and I would recommend almost anything else. That is the are which needs real attention. Cancer isn't fussy about the age of the victim.

Pat Flanagan of IL 3:28PM November 19, 2009

Vicki,
Nobody is making you have a mammogram if you believe it's too painful. I personally would much rather suffer a few minutes of discomfort to screen than suffering from breast cancer! Most women ARE fighting for more individual choice in our health, which would allow you to forgo the mammorgram until it's too late, and allow others to take preventative care of themselves. I'm not sure you even understand what's at stake or even read this article.

Erin of VA 2:41PM November 19, 2009

I was one of those women who was "too busy" to have her annual mammogram. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50. I had skipped having a mammogram for two years prior, my previous screens having been normal. I accidentally found a hard mass under my armpit, saw my internist, had an immediate mammogram and a week later had a mastectomy because I had Stage II breast cancer with three tumors. I later had a prophylactic mastectomy on the right side. Undoubtedly the cancer would have been picked up much earlier on an earlier mammogram, which at the time of diagnosis showed extensive microcalcifications. I still believe in individual choice, however, and blame myself completely for not having had the annual screening which my physician had recommended. I have since excercised that freedom of choice by purchasing the best insurance plan offered through my employer, a PPO, and am able to see the providers of my choice and have the procedures I personally feel would best help me along with the advice of my physician(s). We need to start putting more responsibility on the individual to take care of himself/herself and stop expecting everyone else to take care of us. If that means getting a job for minimal wage so you can get into a group insurance plan, so be it.

Kathy in LA of CA 2:26PM November 19, 2009