MAMMOGRAMS NOW CONSIDERED USELESS

A US task force has issued controversial and confusing guidelines on mammography that curtail your coverage and reimbursement for mammogram screening if they fall outside of the agency’s specific guidelines. The beginning of managed care has arrived, and you the reader must prepare yourself for being denied medical testing and treatments that you have enjoyed in the past. National healthcare is expensive, and it must be rationed.

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MAMMOGRAMS NOW CONSIDERED USELESS

A US task force has issued controversial and confusing guidelines on mammography that curtail your coverage and reimbursement for mammogram screening if they fall outside of the agency’s specific guidelines.

The guidelines differ with a ton of scientific data on screening that shows mammography has significant benefit for women between 40 and 49 to be screened.

Despite the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, all who have recommended annual mammograms for women starting at age 40, managed-care restrictions seem to have begun.

The task force gets its funds from the Federal Healthcare Research and Quality Agency. They say, there might be a benefit of screening, however the benefit is small. You are now being told to talk with your doctor and decide with him whether you should put off screening for a few years. Since insurance won't pay for it, you will probably abide by these guidelines.

SELF EXAMINATION NOW OF NO VALUE

Regarding breast self-examination, the guidelines state that in China and Russia over 100,000 women in each country did self breast examinations and it showed no benefits. On this basis, they recommend American women forget doing breast self-examinations. Hence, if you find a lump in your breast, it need not be verified, since your discovery is negated by the federal guidelines. I guess the federal government no longer feels women can find lumps in their own breasts, since the Chinese and Russian women could not.

The guidelines do not take into account the fact that saving the life of a younger woman leads to more life years saved than it does for older women.

The bottom line is that you and your doctor have a right to make a decision about breast cancer screening, but if you don't have financial coverage, you lose that right.

NEW MAMMOGRAPHY GUIDELINES

The federal government task force new guidelines say: routine mammograms are not necessary for anyone younger than 50 years of age. If you are between 50 and 74 you don't need to have a mammogram more often than every two years. If you are over 74, don’t even think about getting a screening mammogram.

The task force also recommends that doctors quit teaching women how to examine their breasts for signs of cancer, because it has no affect.

These guidelines apply to all women who have no family risk of breast cancer and don't have generic genetic mutations associated with breast cancer, such as BRCA genes.

NOT COST EFFECTIVE

The guidelines weigh the benefits of screening compared with the harms of false positive and unnecessary additional tests and biopsies that of course are expensive and time-consuming.

Mammography has reduced cancer deaths by about 15% in women between the ages of 39 to 59. Since there are fewer cases of cancer in younger women under 40, the Federal task force feels it is not cost-effective for routine mammography.

By discontinuing routine mammography, the government will save over $3.3 billion annually. These guidelines will influence public and private insurers coverage decisions. You will probably see that your coverage will be denied for these tests. It is the beginning of managed national healthcare.

COMMENTARY

As a retired gynecologist, I found many patients came to me because they themselves found a lump in their breasts. Mammograms often revealed the reasons for the lump.

Recent Federal sponsored studies have shown that laparoscopy is of no value, that spine surgery or back pain is useless, that coronary bypass surgery and stent surgery is of no value if there is no cardiac pain, and now mammograms are also of no value.

There seems to be a trend to disclaim solid scientific data on many medical treatments. The beginning of managed care has arrived, and you the reader must prepare yourself for being denied medical testing and treatments that you have enjoyed in the past. National healthcare is expensive, and it must be rationed.

The numerous benefits of good medical care you have received over the years are being compromised because they are not cost effective. The beginning of national healthcare is upon us.

What do you think?

Visit www.drneedles.com for more medical information on controversial and pertinent medical topics.

Sources:
US Preventative Services Task Force guidelines
Annals of internal medicine November 2009
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
American Cancer Society
American Medical Association
Federal Healthcare Research and Quality Agency (provided funding for guidelines)