Let me take a step back for a minute. Let’s first discuss what the new guidelines are. The original guidelines recommended mammograms for women beginning at age 40 and to have annual breast exams preformed by a doctor. The new guidelines from The American Cancer Society have changed the age from 40 to 45 and to abandon the annual doctor exams if you are asymptomatic. Fair enough I suppose.
Now, I am no expert, nor am I a doctor, but I do have a slight…and it is for now a slight…problem with all these changes. I definitely believe that self exams are your best tool, though even those guidelines have had their moments in confusion. My problem with the changing guidelines is that, though The American Cancer Society believes that insurance companies should allow women to have mammograms at 40, over time I suspect that insurance companies will disallow more and more mammograms for more and more women who do not fit into the narrow little guideline book. I speak from experience. If you don’t know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my late 20s. Despite having a history of breast cancer, my insurance company has tried to deny annual mammograms repeatedly due to my age. They have a minimum age considered appropriate for high-risk patients and I have been below that range for years…despite having had cancer. So I don’t fit a guideline and it’s been a slight struggle every year to have the screening covered. Given my experience as a young cancer survivor, I am a bit concerned with this trend toward the constantly shifting guidelines and their effects on those patients who do not fit the standards that may actually need certain screenings and tests. I am no expert on mammography and its effectiveness with diagnosing breast cancer, but at this point in time having been told over and over again how important mammography is, it’s difficult to wrap my mind around the potential for fewer women to be screened due to confusing guidelines and stingy insurance companies.
All that being said, I still whole heartedly believe that self exams are key. You are really the only person who can be completely aware of what is going on with your body and if there is a change or not. I can’t say that I do self exams on any kind of schedule, but I do them when I remember and if something seems off. My oncologist seems to agree with this approach and I highly suggest that everyone do something similar. It’s important to know what your normal is. For example, my breasts…or should I say breast (singular) J…feels quite different as my cycle moves along. This is nothing revolutionary as most women experience this to some degree, but I’ve learned what types of changes occur for me and when they are nothing to worry about. If you take nothing else from this little rant, please consider getting to know your body better and feel yourself up now and then to make sure things are normal – for you! J
Ok. Rant complete. J
