Why am I bringing this up, because it scares the heck out of me! As the breast health educator , I am working everyday with patients facing breast cancer and although the numbers are not in the 50's or 60's each day, the numbers are increasing and in those numbers I am also seeing women in their 30's and women in their 80's and 90's that have been diagnosed with breast cancer. So, I look at those recommendations and wonder, wonder why there are those that think starting to screen at 50 is right and those that say no need to scren after 75 and wondering why those recommendations are what they are and also how these cancers are found if not on screening. All I can say, is that the range is getting wider as I am seeing many younger and many older breast cancers and this can't just be an insurance issue and cost cutting to limit the range of those mammograms. This is about saving lives and finding it early so that there are better outcomes and we can make a difference. For me, I have never been an outwardly policital person but I have found as I get older that these things that are near and dear to my heart make a difference and I am becoming more involved. If we have the tool, we should use it and if it saves a life, we are winning. Hope you can make it a great day! S
At a recent meeting regarding breast cancer issues, it was brought up the Governmental/ society recommendations for routine mmaographic screeing in women at average risk. Keep in mind, those of us that have had breast cancer are past the average risk range but, yet I found what I was looking at very interesting. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Radiology as well as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network have all stated that frequency of screening should be every year and that initiation of screening should start at 40 and go to over the age of 70 years. Having said that, the US Preventative Services task Force, the Canadian Taks Force on Preventive Health Care, the Advisory Committe on Cancer Prevention in the EU and Tha National Health Service, United Kingdom all state that frequency of screening should be every 2-3 years and most don't want you to start screening till 50 and then on the other side, are suggesting no further need or only screen to age 73-74.
Why am I bringing this up, because it scares the heck out of me! As the breast health educator , I am working everyday with patients facing breast cancer and although the numbers are not in the 50's or 60's each day, the numbers are increasing and in those numbers I am also seeing women in their 30's and women in their 80's and 90's that have been diagnosed with breast cancer. So, I look at those recommendations and wonder, wonder why there are those that think starting to screen at 50 is right and those that say no need to scren after 75 and wondering why those recommendations are what they are and also how these cancers are found if not on screening. All I can say, is that the range is getting wider as I am seeing many younger and many older breast cancers and this can't just be an insurance issue and cost cutting to limit the range of those mammograms. This is about saving lives and finding it early so that there are better outcomes and we can make a difference. For me, I have never been an outwardly policital person but I have found as I get older that these things that are near and dear to my heart make a difference and I am becoming more involved. If we have the tool, we should use it and if it saves a life, we are winning. Hope you can make it a great day! S
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AuthorMy name is Sue Kilburn and I am a clinical nurse breast cancer educator at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Archives
March 2015
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