Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women in the United States. A mammogram, is a simple test done with x-ray, to screen women for abnormalities of the breast. Over the past six years, the guidelines put out by various healthcare organizations have changed multiple times on when women should begin screening mammograms. Based on statistical data collected by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), 20 percent of women go without a screening mammogram for their own various reasons, of which may be lack of insurance, lack of time or lack of knowledge as to when they should be getting a screening mammogram done due to the recent changes in recommendations. The utilization of annual screening mammograms beginning at age 40 will continue to help reduce the incidence rate of women with breast cancer, or catch it early enough so that treatment can be sought.
In 2003, the recommendation from many health organizations for getting a screening mammogram was for women to begin at age 40, unless an abnormality was found during a self-breast exam (BSE) or clinical breast exam (CBE) prior to that age. In 2009, the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) unanimously voted to change their recommendations on when women should start having screening mammograms. At that time, the recommendation was for women aged 40-49 to make their own decision on when to have a screening mammogram; Women aged 50-74 to have biennial screening mammograms. For women aged 75+, the USPSTF could
The current recommendation is that women over the age of 40 should receive a mammogram every 1-2 years (Kidd, Colbert & Jatoi, 2015). Breast cancer mortality is higher in ethnic minorities including, Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans (O’Keefe, Meltzer, & Bethea, 2015). With Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White women with breast cancer in a low socioeconomic status, there is also an association with higher mortality rates (O’Keefe et al., 2015). The causes for these disparities is multifactorial and include knowledge deficit, incorrect perceptions about cancer, embarrassment, and prioritization of competing personal obligations, such as working or taking care of family members (Nonzee, et al., 2015). To add to the problem, minority women are much more likely to have high deductible insurance plans, or no insurance coverage at all (Tangka, et al., 2017). These issues lead to later stages of diagnosis of breast cancer, going longer between mammograms, lack of follow-up after suspicious findings on mammograms, and once diagnosed, incomplete treatment of breast cancer (O’Keefe et al.,
The average age of a woman to have a mammogram is forty. However, this was not the case for Jennie Nash. After, her college roommate Lisa was diagnosed with lung cancer, Nash developed what would be considered hypochondriac behavior. She focused on the idea that she was sick and had some sort of cancer as well due to a persisting pain in her left breast. Therefore at the age of thirty-six, she decided to get a mammogram. Even though Nash was young and had no history of breast cancer in her family, she found that the odds were not in her favor. At the age of thirty-six it was confirmed that her right breast was full of small malignant tumors. Nash was young, had to small children, and now breast cancer. At this point in the memoir, Nash shows the reader the horrors of being diagnosed with a life threatening disease that
Masson devotes a more emotional appeal throughout the article, rather than offering confirmation to display that mammograms are not beneficial. She expresses reflection to show the reader her perspective and even contradicts herself in one aspect stating “If I should happen to discover a lump in my breast, I’ll have it evaluated. I’m not opposed to having a diagnostic mammogram” (Masson, 2010). This statement shows weakness within her argument and recognizes that there is potential in mammogram screening. Although relying on mammography is not the only primary diagnostic tool, it can however assist in the initial diagnostic process.
Early detection by screening for breast masses involves a three pronged approach: mammography, breast self-examination, clinical breast examination. Women should have a baseline mammography screening beginning at the age forty. Women who are at a high risk for breast cancer should have a yearly exam beginning at age the age of thirty. A mammography is an X-ray that allows health care professionals to examine the breast tissue for any suspicious areas. Mammograms can often show a breast abnormality before it can be self-detected. The clinical breast exam is performed by a healthcare professional that is trained to recognize different types of abnormalities and risk factors. The clinical breast exams are conducted in-office, typically completed by a family physician or gynecologist at your annual exam. A self-breast exam is something women should do once a month at home. Breast self-exams help you become familiar with how your
The Author reports that the new recommended age for mammograms, by the United States Preventative Services Task Force, has changed from 50 to 40 to reduce the harm from over screening and overtreatment. It also reports that self-breast examinations are no longer recommended on a regular basis. This recommendation comes from evidence that there are no major benefits of early screenings and that only “one cancer death is prevented for every 1,904 women” screened, age 40 to 49. Conversely, there is evidence that frequent early screenings can lead to overtreatment
My mom makes herself go for a mammogram every year. The same as many other women, she doesn’t like it because the pain from the compression technique of the machine and the schedule is not very nice sometimes. Despite the inconvenience, she trusts that the screening mammogram could save her life from breast cancer. However, is the mammogram that valuable as a screening test? This question has been a controversial issue since an annual screening mammography was recommended to women above the age of 40. Recently, a vast study from Canada has casted doubts on the value of this screening test again. Since it made headlines on newspapers and TV news on February, many researchers have investigated and given opposing opinions on this Canadian study. Experts, including the American Cancer Society and the American Radiology College, debunk this Canadian study and strongly encourage women to continue their annual screening mammograms. Today, a development version of mammography – digital breast tomosynthesis – is a promising technology that would improve the quality of mammography. For a better healthy life, women should continue their annual breast mammograms and request that the hospital use tomosynthesis technology to ensure the accuracy of this crucial screening test.
The article describes the lack of strong evidence to support the guideline of rather women should start mammogram screening at age 40 or 50 as well as the age to stop having mammogram screening. A group of experts in primary care and prevention called USPSTF recommend women of age 40 to 49 to consult with their doctor about mammogram and decide for themselves on when is the better time to start mammogram screening. Early mammogram has caused a number of false positive cases and unnecessary breast biopsies. This has cause the U.S. health care system as much as $4 billion dollar per year. Even though early mammogram has saved lives, there is no strong evidence to really back up when mammogram screening should begin versus the risk and cost.
Age is an important factor to consider because studies have shown that “the premenopausal breast is highly sensitive to ionizing radiation” (American Cancer Society). Ultimately, clinical care should continue to be provided to women of all ethnicities, breast types and ages to ensure that as many breast tumors as possible are diagnosed by the most effective screening tool today, which is mammography. Given that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in women, it is key that one considers the risks yet continues to get examined.
A portion of Baby Boomers are still prone to take their doctor's advice to heart. They still hold onto the idea that what the doctor says is best. However, the majority of Baby Boomers have some similarities of Generation X and Generation Y because unlike their parents, they are proactive. If something is wrong, you fix it before it becomes a serious problem. This new change in mind-set lead to mammography becoming as important as it is
“In 2015, there are more than twenty-eight million women with a history of breast cancer in the United States of America. This Includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment. – BreastCancer.Org“ Breast cancer has taking over many people bodies, also lives. Anybody can get breast cancer from man to women. Cancer doesn’t have to be in your family history for you to get it.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death and one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among women in the United States (Tang, Patterson, Roubidoux, & Duan, 2009). Screening mammography has been shown to decrease the breast cancer mortality rate through early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Despite the benefits of screening mammography millions of eligible women are either overdue or have never received a screening mammogram.
The National Cancer Society states that, “Regular mammograms are one of the best weapons you can have against breast cancer.” Early detection is the key to beating cancer. If the cancer is
• Schedule your test about 1-2 weeks after your menstrual period. This is when your breasts are the least tender.
However, the recommendations for mammography screening have recently been challenged by the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force (U.S.P.S.T.F.). Since April of 2015 there has been a debate on what the breast cancer screening guidelines should be for women (United States House of Representatives, 2015). In 2015 the U.S.P.S.T.F. created confusion when they issued new guidelines which entailed that women should not begin mammogram screening until the age of 50 and even after 50 they recommend biannual screenings (United States House of Representatives, 2015). The problem with the U.S.P.S.T.F. changing their guidelines is that the insurance companies use the recommendations made by the U.S.P.S.T.F. and will only pay for guidelines with an A or B rating
Cancer is one of the main threats to health as the second cause of death after heart disease[1]. Approximately 7.6 million people per year worldwide die from cancer and there tends to be an increase in the number of cancer patients each year[2]. One type of cancer is breast cancer that occurs due to disruption of the system of cell growth in breast tissue[3]. This type of cancer most commonly suffered by women worldwide. In Indonesia, there are 48 thousand cases of breast cancer with 21.4% of deaths in women[4]. Cancer treatment method widely used today are surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted protein therapies aimed to remove the cancerous tissue or make cancer cell death, but the method induces side effects on normal