It Begins ...

It was announced that a study conducted by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has determined that the preventative screening method of mammography is not required until a woman achieves the age of 50. The recommendation suggests the initiating of these exams a full decade later than the studies done by numerous medical boards for most of our lifetimes. Also, and perhaps more significantly, the

Federal Gov’t recommendation indicates that the self exam, which has been taught to women for as far back as most of us can remember as a possible early indicator, should not be taught, encouraged, recommended, or be done at all.

It is my understanding that a mammogram is essentially an X-Ray of the breast whilst it is unmercifully squeezed flat between two cold metal plates and while various medical personnel (and their friends and family) stand, point and laugh. I also believe that the instructions for the technician are to pull, twist and grab the breast in such a way as to guarantee pain, or at least moderate discomfort.

All of that said, a mammogram, like any other X-Ray seems relatively less expensive when considering its cost against that of radiation and/or chemotherapy and/or mastectomy surgery. Even if a mammogram is more expensive than a standard X-Ray, which I suspect it would be (though not by an extraordinary multiplier), I would think it has added value. In terms of emotional costs and quality of life for the women in question, I would think it highly preferential.

I think any reasonable person would agree with the notion that preventative measures generally allow for the avoidance of high cost consequences due to neglecting to address large problems preemptively, or in their early stages. This is true of virtually everything from automobile care to our own bodies.



I am not a doctor, nor do I have breasts, but it occurs to me that there is no reason that the self exam should be discouraged. One would think that in the shadow of Big Red, to show a propensity for cost savings, a free exam deemed as a preventative measure would be encouraged to no end and included in the plan as a cost savings vehicle.



As a side note: Ladies, if you would like assistance with your breast exam, please feel free to contact me to set up an appointment. I would be happy to perform an extensive examination and give my opinion.



The published study concludes: (in part)

• Women between the ages 50 and 74 should receive mammograms every other year, not annually;

• Doctors should not instruct women how to examine their breasts on a regular basis; and

• There was insufficient data concerning the benefits of screening after age 74



Am I the only one to whom this appears to be the first effort of a government controlled healthcare system to begin inflicting rationing of said care?

I’m certainly not naive enough to consider this an innocuous coincidence with the healthcare debate and the fear mongering associated with the handling of the swine flu vaccines.



I have great respect and admiration for women. I have, for virtually my entire life, consistently made and kept female friends more so than male. I generally have one or two male friends with whom I speak at a level that can be deemed frequent, but simultaneously have no less than three to five female friends, in addition to a significant other, with whom I speak frequently. Assign to it whichever quality you see fit, I just get along better with women than I do men.

For reasons scattered across the continuum of relationship, there are many women for whom I am concerned in matters of health and general welfare. When I see a study like this come out of our government, my protective knight in shining armor chivalrous characteristics stand front and center. Suddenly I fear that the women I care for in this world have just become less safe. That is most decidedly not ok with me. I will settle for no less than an increase in their positive health and safety at any given moment, in any given field of discussion.



For approximately two generations the proliferation of breast cancer in American women has been declining. Until it reaches zero, it is not enough. But declining is certainly a good thing. That decline has been in large part attributed to the increasing awareness and education of women to self exam, in addition to regular mammograms, to aid in diagnosing the maladies in their very early stages. Early diagnosis is essential to the survivability of, and level of quality of life after, breast cancer.

The notion that women between forty and fifty years of age will now be sacrificed in the name of communist healthcare is an outrage.



What is far more disturbing is that women will not be taught to self exam. This seems ludicrous on its face for it is virtually free for women to do it. All it requires is a little of their time.

Ah, but that’s the rub{pun intended} It isn’t the exam itself that the government would be concerned about. It would be if a woman finds something of concern. During a self exam the discovery of something causing concern would mean that women would be making an appointment with their doctor to further investigate the matter. That means ultrasound, mammogram, etc. and all of that costs money.

The government would much prefer that women go about their lives without discovering these things early so that at age 50 when they have their first mammogram and the advanced tumor is discovered they can say “sorry, you’re too old, and the cancer is too advanced, for the government healthcare system to invest in your treatment. Please go home and die quietly without costing us any more money.”



So the Catch 22 is this. Women who discover such serious malady early can get treatment because they are young enough to warrant society investing in the treatment. But if you’re too old upon it’s discovery, society will not invest further into your health. Women should not (or possibly will be prohibited from) attempt to detect these ailments earlier in their life.

The outrage which has ensued from this published study has been warranted, and adequate to cause significant efforts by the White House and HHS Secretary to enact damage control. But the outrage should not stop short by one millimeter of removing, by physical force if necessary, any Executive or Congressional supporter of public healthcare from office.

This is nothing short of the initial government death panel. There will be much, much more if we do nothing to stop it.



Anyone who knows me is aware that I am not a religious man. It will surprise those to hear me say this. If we do not stop this agenda and remove these enemies from office in very short order, God help us all ….