Have you had your Pap Smear and Mammogram Recently?

Yesterday, I went for my annual mammogram and thought I would repost this blog today for you:


This one is for the ladies today. It occurred to me that many of you are lax in getting your pap smears and mammograms. Here's some info you definitely SHOULD read! And for you girls out there who don't like to touch yourselves, THAT'S WHAT YOUR GUY IS THERE FOR!! HAVE SOME FUN AND LET YOUR MAN EXAMINE YOUR BREASTS! Seriously, did you know that it is usually the sex partner who initially detects breast lumps? Think about it...who better knows your breasts than the one who plays most with them???
The 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines on mammography and breast examination are controversial and the following facts should be seriously considered.
Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Breast cancer claims more than 40,000 lives each year. Only lung cancer reigns as the number one cancer killer. The mammography has been highly effective in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Historically, the USPSTF has recommended mammograms every 1-2 years for women who turn 40 years of age. Recently, the new guidelines recommend commencing mammography screening at age 50 until reaching the age of 74 and only one test every two years.
The USPSTF has determined that early screening adds only 2 lives saved per 1000 women screened. Screening women in their 50s averts "only" 1 death in every 1300 women screened, and screening women in their 40s prevents only 1 death in every 1900. Only one death might not seem so bad….unless that statistic is you, your mother, sister, wife, friend or significant other!
The American Cancer Society has stated that "The new guidelines are essentially telling women that mammography age 40 to 49 saves lives...just not enough of them”. 22% of breast cancer deaths occur in women in their 50s, 17% occur in women in their 40s.
The 2009 guidelines discourage teaching breast self-exam to patients, stating that this practice leads to more procedures, false alarms and unneeded biopsies, and doesn't reduce breast cancer mortality. They cite no conclusions on the value of clinical breast exam.
There is no recommendation for the preferable screening method (plain film, digital mammography, or MRI).
The USPSTF disclaimer reads: "This recommendation applies to women age 40 and older who are not at increased risk (of breast cancer) by virtue of a known genetic mutation or a history of chest radiation."
Healthcare reform is a priority of the national agenda presently, and these new guidelines could very well be used as fodder by insurance companies to use as a baseline to limit or restrict screening and testing that have been proven to be very effective tools in early detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Of course, mammography is not a perfect tool, but as a woman, I’d rather be safe now than sorry later on.
The American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology say starting mammograms at age 40 is still the way to go. As a healthcare professional, I stand with this statement and I hope all who read this will agree. Go get the squeeze... please!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day: For more information on breast cancer, examinations and all other questions, please log onto the following NCI (National Cancer Institute) website: http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/screening/breast