Comments on: Why Support the New ACS Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines?

By: Ronda Salazar

Ronda Salazar — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 18:56:27 +0000

Heidi, there has been mention of the “risks” associated with earlier mammogram screenings. Do you know if the risk is just in reference to the false-positives which may result in unnecessary biopsies, or is it the potential harm of additional x-rays? Any thoughts or ideas on this? Thank you!!

By: Heidi Garland

Heidi Garland — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 23:21:53 +0000

In reply to Jennifer.

Jennifer, my breast cancer couldn’t have been detected by self-exam either, dense breast! I’m glad you are healthy now.
Thank you for your comment!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 16:07:25 +0000

I encourage women to continue to do their self exams. At age 44, I found my lump, an aggressive, invasive, cancer, which was not visible by mammogram (due, perhaps, to my dense breast tissue.) It was very aggressive and, if left untreated until detected by mammogram, I hate to think of the consequences.

By: Heidi Garland

Heidi Garland — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 03:25:09 +0000

In reply to Betty Robertson.

Betty congratulations on being a 20-year survivor! Well done! Also, I’m so incredibly happy for your sister – 8 year’s cancer free BRAVO! Thank you for your support of Relay for Life, where do you volunteer? Keep up the good work AND keep your little sister healthy too. Thanks for your comment!

By: Heidi Garland

Heidi Garland — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 02:25:23 +0000

In reply to Anna. Anna, I appreciate your comment. I expect that there will be examples on both sides. There will be competent practitioners that will properly encourage women to get their Mammograms at age 40 and other's who won't. As for the insurance industry, sorry to say they don't need guidelines to deny patients coverage. I received a letter from my insurance company asking if my cancer was as the result of a car accident and should it be submitted to my insurance company. I have a friend who was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in her 80's and she's been cancer-free for several years. I'm so sorry that the 74-year-old woman was not offered treatment options. I'm going to personally hope for the best!

By: Betty Robertson

Betty Robertson — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 02:22:43 +0000

Thank you for clarifying this. I encourage all friends and family to start mammograms at age 40. Until we find a cure for cancer, women and men need to take ALL precautions to find cancer as early as possible. I was 48 when I had breast cancer (hurray 20 years cancer free) and my sister was 57 (hurray 8 years cancer free); however, our younger sister had not yet began her mammograms so when I was diagnosed , and due to the fact that it had start in run in my family, she immediately went for her first exam. I have been a volunteer in Relay For Life for 18 years and encourage early exams. Better early and safe versus later and sorry. Everyone has to make their own personal decision, but think hard and get the information and make a wise decision when it comes to your life.

By: Heidi Garland

Heidi Garland — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 02:15:30 +0000

In reply to Amy. Thank you Amy! Please know that many of us appreciate ACS and all that you do!

By: Anna

Anna — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 00:09:29 +0000

I think insurance will look at these guidelines and they will adjust their coverage to go by these guidelines. I also think women will hear these guidelines and think that they do not need to get a mammogram or do self breast exams. I think we are taking backward steps even though this article and video in it talks about it more in depth. I am afraid doctors will discourage women from mammograms. They already tell them if they are in 70’s they do not need mammograms. Being a woman and age is risk factors. I know of a 74 yr old woman that has breast cancer because she had a knot and doctor told her not to worry about it. I am still concerned about these guidelines. It seems they change and flip flop back and forth.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 23:47:17 +0000

As a staff partner and fundraising for the ACS, I so appreciate your willingness to post your journey from frustration to understanding. Many feel like you do and this helps me and my staff help others to understand. At the end of the day its about saving lives and ensuring all have the right and flexibility to do what’s best for oneself. Well done.

By: Heidi Garland

Heidi Garland — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 23:20:14 +0000

In reply to Jennifer Nagy. Thank you, Jennifer for your VERY kind words. It took a bit for the correct message to sink in yet now I understand and my mission now is to correct the misguided and not feed the trolls in the process. Thanks again, Heidi