Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Day Sixty...Are You Thinking About Our BOOBS Or Your Bottom Line?

Hi.

I can't help but wonder where I would be right now if I did not have my baseline mammogram at 38 and my next one at 39? I was diagnosed with DCIS and a 1.5 centimeter tumor. If I were to have listened to the guidelines that they are suggesting in the study that came out today, would I be in the morgue or maybe I would have had to have a mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy? It drives me CRAZY that they think that women in their 40's should not do yearly exams. Who are they working for? The insurance companies or women? I can't tell you how many people I know who have been diagnosed in their 40's. C'mon, too much radiation? What about our phones? What about going through security at an airport? What about..so much crap that is in the air? What about the crap we put in in our bodies? How about the hormones that are shot into cows and chickens that we digest when we eat? We are talking about women's lives. We are talking about women's families who are affected. How DARE they. I am curious who funded this research. I know it was done through "reputable" institutions....do they worry more about costs and radiation exposure over catching breast cancer in its early stages? Will the insurancies companies get a "pass" from paying for yearly mammograms if you are not high risk? The study even said that there is no evidence if it is caught in its early stages that it effects the outcome. OMG. Have any of those researchers been through surgeries, chemo, radiation and heartbreak? Have they lost a family member or dear friend to breast cancer? Have they watched a loved one in fear of dieing? Have they witnessed someone being so sick that they can't lift up their head from their pillow? Have they watched a young girl not wanting to go to school because she's afraid that her mommy won't be alive when she comes home from school? Where is our humanity? Where is our sensitivity? Has our world become only about statistics and money?

Why listen to Wolffie? Because I get it. I can get totally consumed with this study. I can bitch and moan , but the only way I can be heard is to write to my Congressman. I will have to look further into the study before I rant. I know I have to get more educated. I want to protect my daughter and I want to protect women who don't even know that they have breast cancer. So, I will do what I can and that will help me sleep at night. I can't afford to be angry or stressed. I will do my part because I believe that each of our tiny voices becomes one big loud voice. The only people looking out for us, is us. I will go on a campaign..Help save our Boobs. I hope you will join me.

Can you relate?

More will be revealed. Please come back for more.

Signing off until we meet again.

In Love and Peace,

Wolffie

3 comments:

  1. Had i been told to have a mamogram at 50, i would not even have made it to 50,
    i think that mamograms should be given at the age of 25 to whom ever is ready,
    i found my breast cancer myself as the mamogram did not pick it up, i recently had a double mastectomy, lumpectomy, chemo. not a fun year for me, but at least I am still here,
    wendy, i am glad you are still here too. traci

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  2. Wendy,
    We haven't had a chance to speak about this completely absurd notion that we don't need SELF EXAMS and that we don't need early detection....the insurance companies are behind this and we must stand up against them...I am behind you , in front of you, and all over this cause....HELP SAVE OUR BOOBS....
    love, your sister
    I am so proud of your blogging!

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  3. I just discussed this issue today with my doctor and she said that the American Cancer society is still recommending mammograms at 40 and that the US Heath and Human Services Secretary agrees. She felt most doctors will continue to recommend and encourage these screenings. The real question will be whether or not insurance companies will pay for them. I do not trust them and will continue to write Congress about health issues. It seems that women especially are denied are suffering. I am proud of you!

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