22 replies to this topic

[Divegirl412]

As you all know, October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness month in the US. Here is some more information to remind all my women friends to make sure they keep up with their annual mammograms starting at 40. Yes, at 40, despite all the confusion from the recent US government panel reports in the media. I just spoke today to a 36 year old who I diagnosed last year at 35. So far, thank God, she is doing well. So get your mammograms!!!

Here is some information from some of our professional societies for breast imaging...


Mammography Saves Lives™ Campaign Helps Clear Confusion on When and How Often Women Should Receive Mammograms.

The Society of Breast Imaging in partnership with the American College of Radiology and the American Society of Breast Disease has launched the Mammography Saves Lives campaign. see link below. The campaign highlights the following messages:

Mammography has helped reduce the breast cancer death rate by nearly 1/3 since 1990

Mammography can detect cancer early when it is most treatable and can be treated less invasively

¾ (YES, THREE-QUARTERS) of women diagnosed have no family history of breast cancer or other factors that put them at high risk for developing the disease (so screening only high risk women misses majority of cancers)

Go to Mammography Saves Lives where you can:

Sign up to receive an annual reminder email to receive a mammogram

Find scientific information regarding why they need to start mammography at age 40

Hear from leading breast cancer experts why annual mammograms save lives

Find an ACR accredited mammography facility near you

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Excellent information, Rosa!

Ladies, it may be a PITA to get the mammogram, but it's worth it to catch things as early as possible. I've been getting an annual mammogram since my mid-30's. My insurance covers it, but I understand there are ways to get them for free or a drastically reduced cost if your insurance fails you.

[lynnlchan]

My sister-in-law is amazing. She does triathlons and routinely finishes in the top 12 men or women. She's 43 and in great health. She went in for a routine mammo last Jan. and by Feb. had had a double mastectomy. They found a very small but fast growing cancer. That one appointment saved her life.

[uwfan]

Thankfully something found in my first mammogram was NOT cancer, but I certainly will not skip a mammogram when it is time for my yearly visit.

[scubajunkie6]

Thanks for the post, Rosa.

Yup, my mom had breast cancer, and had a HUGE fear of doctors. She ended up getting a double mastectomy. Oddly enough, she survived that part and ended up dying of a heart attack because ehs wouldn't go to the Dr...she had the classic signs of her right arm tingling, etc. Needless to say, it was an eye opening experience for me, and I get my mammograms & physicals annually.

As a side note, I also end up getting an ultrasound about few weeks later because of the results of my mammogram. (This is my 4th experience, anyway). My only advice on that is while mammograms are typically (easily) covered under insurance, my ultrasound ended up costing me over $700 the first year because they enrolled me in the hospital, etc., even though it was really an outpatient experience that lasted maybe an hour. I now get my mammograms and ultrasounds at a clinic that isn't a hospital, and all is fine...the records still go to my Doctor, same or better equipment, and the bill is a regular co-payment of $20 each visit.

Do your homework on the costs, if you need to....but get the mammogram done!

[scubajunkie6]

Ladies, it may be a PITA to get the mammogram

Yeah, the feeling of getting smashed between two bookends doesn't last very long
...get the mammo done (then go diving, )

[WreckWench]

Any input from members about the effectiveness of the thermal imaging mammograms?

[pmarie]

I found it interesting that here in Florida Physicians are telling the patients that they can get mammograms every two years instead of yearly. Most of this is insurance driven and it appears Physicians have supported this statement. I say this due to my own experience. My Physician was firm in the presentation that every other year is fine. When I see how fast some cancers grow it does not inspire confidence for me.

[Divegirl412]

Any input from members about the effectiveness of the thermal imaging mammograms?

I assume you are talking about the thermograms? As a radiologist, my opinion (more than two cents) is that those are crap. I liken them to snake oil sales from the past. And no, I don't have an opinion about them . When the thermogram readers proclaim that the swirls of color signify an abnormality, their advice is always "Get a mammogram and/ or ultrasound". You should be getting mammos anyway, so why waste time with unproven tests and possibly a false sense of security?

[Divegirl412]

Thanks for the post, Rosa.

Yup, my mom had breast cancer, and had a HUGE fear of doctors. She ended up getting a double mastectomy. Oddly enough, she survived that part and ended up dying of a heart attack because ehs wouldn't go to the Dr...she had the classic signs of her right arm tingling, etc. Needless to say, it was an eye opening experience for me, and I get my mammograms & physicals annually.

As a side note, I also end up getting an ultrasound about few weeks later because of the results of my mammogram. (This is my 4th experience, anyway). My only advice on that is while mammograms are typically (easily) covered under insurance, my ultrasound ended up costing me over $700 the first year because they enrolled me in the hospital, etc., even though it was really an outpatient experience that lasted maybe an hour. I now get my mammograms and ultrasounds at a clinic that isn't a hospital, and all is fine...the records still go to my Doctor, same or better equipment, and the bill is a regular co-payment of $20 each visit.

Do your homework on the costs, if you need to....but get the mammogram done!

You are so welcome.

But you know what, that $700 charge sounds wrong. I would fight that if I were you. Whether performed at a hospital or not, breast ultrasound is an outpatient procedure. There may be some differences in price between the clinics and hospital (I work at both), but not to the tune of $700!!!!

[Divegirl412]

I found it interesting that here in Florida Physicians are telling the patients that they can get mammograms every two years instead of yearly. Most of this is insurance driven and it appears Physicians have supported this statement. I say this due to my own experience. My Physician was firm in the presentation that every other year is fine. When I see how fast some cancers grow it does not inspire confidence for me.

I have personally seen cancers develop in patients who had a completely normal mammogram 4-6 months before. A colleague (who is also a breast imaging specialist) and I both reviewed her own mammogram in January. It was normal. In August, she had a palpable mass, and now a 2cm mass on her mammogram. It was cancer. Even in retrospect, neither one of us could say it was on her previous mammo. And yes, she was in her mid-forties.

My comments to patients as far as the two year interval include....

"I am human, and make mistakes...if I miss something on your mammogram, do you want it to grow for one year or two before we find it"

"Your insurance only pays every other year? Hmmm, how much does it cost to do your nails, hair, go to dinner, shoes... (you get the picture). Cutting out one of those will help pay for your mammogram... especially with the October discounts. Whose life is it? Yours or your insurance company's?"

And my favorite, because we have gotten a bit paranoid about our breasts.... "You smoke and you are in my office crying about a cyst???!!!! When are you going to quit" That usually cuts through the crying and gets me a blank stare... "How do you know I smoke" "Duh, you reek!. Tobacco related illness kills more women than breast cancer." Moral of the story... get your mammograms, pay attention to your breast health, but don't go overboard and be overly dramatic or histrionic

[WreckWench]

Thank you Rosa...that is the second similar opinion I've heard about them...I had been doing them so will schedule a real mammogram in October. I am self insured so very paranoid about being proactive...just wish I knew the other was a waste of money/time earlier.


And I challenge every woman on this site to get one in Oct if they have not gotten one this year already!

[rkymtwy]

I lost my mom to breast cancer and a very close friend was diagnosed with Stage 5 at age 40, before they even suggest that you now have a mammogram. Sadly to say she only survived 3 years after the diagnosis. Go have your mammogram, the discomfort only last for a little time and it could save your life.

On October 3rd, I'll be walking in the Colorado Race for the Cure in memory of my mom, Kelli and all the other individuals that had their lives disrupted by this terrible disease.

[uwfan]

Thank you Rosa...that is the second similar opinion I've heard about them...I had been doing them so will schedule a real mammogram in October. I am self insured so very paranoid about being proactive...just wish I knew the other was a waste of money/time earlier.


And I challenge every woman on this site to get one in Oct if they have not gotten one this year already!

And I further challenge every woman on this site to do self exams every month. I'll be challenging myself in the process as I've relied too heavily on mammograms catching anything. Let's make this a cancer free zone!

[scubajunkie6]

But you know what, that $700 charge sounds wrong. I would fight that if I were you. Whether performed at a hospital or not, breast ultrasound is an outpatient procedure. There may be some differences in price between the clinics and hospital (I work at both), but not to the tune of $700!!!!

Agree, and I did try to fight it with my insurance, but because I went through the "enrollment" procedures, I was checked in (had the ID bracelet and everything). Then discharged about 1.5 hours later. The enrollment process itself took at least 1/2 an hour. Horrible situation, and I complained to my Dr. who didn't do anything either. So, I found another place via a health fair at my workplace. Told one of the staff about my scenario and she gave me a card to a place that does mammos and ultrasounds all the time. In fact, once I had a mammo in a conference room at work via these people! They brought a portable device...how convenient!