YOUR COMMENTS

An imprudent recommendation...to say the least. People pay for these and other services in their healthcare premiums. They should get what they pay for.


As far as national healthcare reform goes, there is plenty of hypocrisy on both sides of the issue. If the Health Insurers did honor their contracts we would not be having this debate.

My daughter was seriously ill one year ago. Three Harvard doctors wanted to extend her hospital stay. At 4 pm, the insurer informed them she was to be kicked to the curb at 5pm the same day despite the fact that we have excellent coverage that provided for many more weeks of inpatient care. I am in the health care litigation business and could not get their attention until I called my local GOP State Senator who called a former (not the current) insurance commissioner. Then they changed their minds in a hurry.

The current left wing crew in power has a history of talk and no action...or talk and opposite action. It is who they are. I know because for many years I was one of their key allies in Derry until their hypocrisy was more than even I could stand.

Want another example? Jeanne Shaheen voted in the U.S. Senate this month to block restrictions on interest rates charged by credit card companies allowing them to increase rates pre 2/1/2010 to more than 30%. where is her vaunted campaign slogan "fighting for NH families" now????


Do not blame Bush for this healthcare decision, he left office nearly a year ago. Obama can replace the crew in question anytime he wants. Moreover, the breast screening change is in fact a decision designed to ratchet back covered care in an effort to restrain costs when heathcare reform is enacted. Wake up.
- PAUL NEEDHAM, Derry NH

There is a Dartmouth-Hitchcock physician on this board that made this recommendation, Allen J. Dietrich, M.D.
- Karen, Nashua

Interesting that a National Healthcare System, which would provide medical and preventative care to everyone, is regarded as "too expensive"; saving the lives of the uninsured would be "too expensive"....But let a group suggest that preventative mammograms for 40-50 year olds is "too expensive" and all of a sudden we should spare no expense to save a life.
Guess it all depends on whose life is at stake, huh?
- Sue, Salem

Lillian, Newcastle, if you would like to have your comments taken seriously, you might want to state your facts before you throw out your obvious liberal bias with statements like….”Typical ignorant people …. koolaiders……..”

The members of the team making these “proper recommendations” (your conclusion, not mine) were not experts in cancer, breast cancer treatment and options, etc. They were mostly General Practice or Public Health Doctors. If I’m going to take anybody’s recommendation on a SPECIFIC disease/course of treatment – it’s going to be the specialist. These folks were already on the job during the Bush administration and were kept on after Obama administration took over. They wouldn’t still be here delivering products if the current administration didn’t want them.

You point out that one of the reasons for this change in breast cancer guidelines was to avoid the stressful situation of enduring “false positives”. Well, can you tell me how YOU KNOW it’s a false positive before you’ve had the investigative MRI/biopsy? And I have to tell you, most women are pretty resilient. They have to be to put up with the “weaker sex” stupidity that seems to rear its ugly head every so often. And the last time I checked, childbirth was not exactly a walk in the park on the stress meter, either. We know how to survive AND thrive.

Another factor from the study seemed to be that they wanted women to avoid the terrible dangers of overexposure to radiation. Really? Did anyone ask a breast cancer survivor how they felt about all the radiation and chemo therapy that resulted in the eradication of their cancer and a clean bill of health how they felt about the risk? And the few seconds of radiation from the mammogram on a yearly basis can’t be all that terribly dangerous. I’m sorry, with all the nasty stuff flying around in the atmosphere and in our drinking water and in our food; I really can’t take that one very seriously. I’ll take life any day thank you and so will all the survivors.

The fact is that America has the highest cancer survival rate in the world, and preventive care through regular screening, especially for breast cancer, started early on in life is the primary reason. Just go check out the ACS and the Susan G. Komen Foundation – the statistics are all there.
- Sandy, Thornton

Kudos to my friend & fellow bc sister, Norma Jean. You go girl.

Maybe Lillian of Newcastle should hear those terrible words from a doctor... you have cancer... or go through surgery to remove part of your breast or have three months of chemo, getting sick and losing her hair and fingernails and then getting burned by radiation five days a week for seven weeks.

"Typical ignorant people". Well this typical ignorant person would probably be dead if not for finding cancer through a mammo at 48 years old.

- Betsy, 2 1/2 year survivor
- Betsy, Kingston

Spike, I hate to differ, but the final decision does not rest with a woman and her doctor. It rests with her doctor and her insurance (or lack thereof) company.
- The Other Jake, Manchester

The American Cancer Society is not changing our breast cancer screening guidelines. The American Cancer Society believes strongly that a large body of evidence shows lifesaving benefits for mammorgaphy in women 40 to 50.


For additional information, the Cancer Blog of Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, our deputy medical director, has a full discussion of this issue, http://www.cancer.org/aspx/blog/Comments.aspx?id=331
- Matt Lyman, American Cancer Society, Bedford, NH

This is not about health care reform! This is about saving lives. Early detection is what is important!!! This has nothing to do with Bush, Obama, Pelosi, liberals dems, reps, I could go on. This is about breast cancer screenings, early detection. Open your minds to what the real point is here. This is about being diagnosed with a horrific illness, that kills thousands each year. And there are many many women below the age of 40 being diagnosed. This is about life. Mine and every woman who has been diagnosed with this deadly disease. It has nothing to do with politics. It is about saving lives. And someday it could strike a woman you love. Cancer has NO PREJUDICE and that includs age.
- Norma J Gecks, Derry

Let me see...let's expose the breast to a known carginogen to find out if there's cancer! Duuhhh...who ever thought this sounded like a good idea to begin with? Oh yeah...that's right...every doctor has an x-ray machine in their office that needs to be paid for. That makes it sound advice! Doesn't it?

Statically women who get mammoscams have no higher a survival rate than women who don't. Mammoscams are just one of the many poisons that cause cancer when humans are exposed to them.
Cancer is not an innate or hereditary disease. It is an environmental disease brought on by overloading the body with more toxins than it can handle. We are the ones causing the cancer epidemic with all the toxins we put into our bodies and expose ourselves to. And the ironic thing is that many of those toxins, including radiation, are coming from the health care industry! There is no profit in keeping patients healthy, only in making them customers for life.
- James Longfellow, Hooksett

How DARE they.

THis is such an emotional topic for so many. I am NOT putting off my mamm, I'll get one when I darn well feel like it. Why? For three generations, everyone who has passed in my family was due to CANCER. So, yeah, I can kind of guess what my fate will be, and so sorry if I want to know what 'flavor' I'll be lucky enough to get. So bring on the mammies, the colonoscopies, and blood tests... I can handle it.

What I CAN'T handle is the ignorance of panels trying to get us all talking about, "oh its no big deal..." so that when our claims are denied we don't fight back! National Health Care? A JOKE.
- Getting Tested, Manchester

Do you get the undertone of the blame Bush baloney being written here. This is Obamacare and it is one of his Death Panels.
- Bob, Salem

We're only women. We're disposable. That's how I feel every time I see that a rapist was allowed free and committed the same act again (often in conjunction with murder), and that's how I feel when I see an article like this. We are simply not important enough to keep alive.
- D, Derry, NH

I am a two time breast cancer survivor due to early detection by having my yearly mammograms. There was absolutely no way these lumps could have been detected by self exams. We as men and women need to stand up and fight this. If we let this one go by us without a fight what is next.
- Lynda Pelletier, Candia NH

i think that telling a woman to wait until they are 50 is just bull-- thats like saying nothings going to go wrong until your 50 years old. the people that are saying you should wait should have it happen to them and then see how fast they change thair minds about waiting until your 50 years old, my wife has had canser and all before she was 50 so what do they say about that if she had waited she would have been dead by now. its all money thats all its about thats it.MONEY.
i think they should get some one that knows what they are talking about before they just let people like that just say what ever they wont to. i a man but thats the way i feel .
- Ed leclerc, wolfeboro nh

So it starts! Convenient timing to release this study (released by Bush admin appointees!) just as the debate about health care reform starts. Call me paranoid, but I can't help but wonder who is truly behind the timing of this recommendation! What a way to give the anti-reformers a cause to bleat about! ("See what the gov't will do to your healthcare, no more mammograms covered by insurance if you are under 50 or over 75!")

If my wife of 25+ years had not done a self-breast exam & got herself to a specialist ASAP, she would not be alive today. While I wish her IBC diagnosis had been a false positive, I am glad she took immediate action and didn't ignore it because of some stupid gov't study!
- Carl White, Weare

The New Mammogram Guidelines
made headlines in our paper down
here and I commend your readers for
their comments. There are MANY readers here in Va that concur with ya'll
in NH and feel that both Women & Men
should stand up for our rights as citizens
to have proper health care and preventive maintance to stay healthy
at any age!!
- M Garrison, Williamsburg, va

What a bogus "study." This is another ploy to lure us into Obamacare. Between the bogus studies, the fudged figures, and the fictitious jobs, this "dispenser of lies" (Obama) is becoming more comical by the day. What the REAL data shows is that America has the highest cancer survival rate in the world and that preventative care through regular screening is the primary reason.

But regular screening is expensive--which is why the Obamacrats have devised this dastardly plan. By encouraging women to delay screening, the aggregate cost of health care will be reduced substantially. This, in turn, will make Obamacare look more appealing to Americans, given their growing concern over the deficit. But at what cost to us in terms of our health and longevity? Bob's right, this is another death panel.
- Susie, Horseshoe Bay, TX (NH native)

Lillian, Newcastle quote "Typical ignorant people, jumping on the tone of an issue without knowing the substance, just to take political jibes. Again, because this issue involves both FACTS and HISTORY, which the koolaiders do not believe in, they are bound to be utterly confused."

She obviously has not considered that these recommendations have a way of becoming claim guidelines for insurance companies. Not to mention the government who will most certainly use recommendations form a government appointed panel to drive policy.

It is not koolaid! Nobody said the study will prevent people form being able to get the screenings BUT it will probably be on their dime.
- Peter, Nottingham

Wow. If this happened under GW Bush everyone would be calling for his impeachment! So I ask...if it would be GWB's fault...isn't this one Obama's fault?

The public plan will go by HHS recommendations not the ACS. So when we all have public healthcare and you want an annual screen, I guess your government won't pay for it. Nice. Real nice.
- Derek, Concord, NH

Typical ignorant people, jumping on the tone of an issue without knowing the substance, just to take political jibes. Again, because this issue involves both FACTS and HISTORY, which the koolaiders do not believe in, they are bound to be utterly confused.

The head of the study was on CNN last night, and Wolf Blitzer did his best to corner her for sensationalist purposes as is done in this article. He couldn't do it, because she is a good scientist working with good facts and making proper recommendations.

There is no call to ignore breast cancer until 50, it is instead a change in normal recommendations. In other words if you want a mammogram at 40 have it, but do have one at 50 whether you want one or not. Have it at 30 if you want to, but it's also not recommended.

The doctor said, "Inspect your breasts normally, have your mammogram in consult with your doctor, it is no longer standard to automatically have one at 40."

This does not mean ignore cancer, it simply addresses false positives, false worry, and moves the RECOMMENDED time to a later age. I know, all the facts get in the way of koolaid thinking, sorry!
- Lillian, Newcastle

This is not Obamacare. No one knows how devastating cancer is to a family until someone you love is diagnosed. That yearly exam SAVED MY LIFE! Read the obituaries. More than 2600 NH residents will lose the battle in 2009. Cancer has no prejudice. I hope the women in your lives will never hear those devastating words "You have breast cancer." Early detection DOES save lives. Before you all go off about this go to Dana Farber, Lahey Clinic, Dartmouth Hitchcock, Boston. Sit with any one of those people who are having chemo. Go to any Relay For Life, Susan G Komen walk. Listen to the impact cancer has had on them and their families. Men beware you are also at risk for breast cancer. As I said CANCER HAS NO PREJUDICE. I now advocate for those who no longer have a voice and for their families. I'm fortunate to still have a voice.

Norma Jean Gecks
Survivor & Advocate
- Norma J Gecks, Derry

Talk about a peek into the future. How the Government heathcare system will get the job done - reduce the standards of care to financially acceptable levels and call it good. Then tell the people they should be glad to be a part of it and to shut up. Remember to get out and vote.
- steve, concord, nh

The so-called panel of experts consisted of primary care physicians and family practice professionals. There was no participation by oncologists, radiologists, representatives from the American Cancer Society, etc. Certainly wouldn’t want to let the facts from the experts get in the way, right? There were no intermediate reviews of this panel’s findings before their report was released. Why not?
What is frightening is the increasing occurrence of Government intervention into my personal freedom of choice. When are people going to stand up and say enough is enough and get off our backs?!
And after having read the latest health care abomination that was passed by the House, I can tell you that this is only the tip of the iceberg. Rationing and denial of treatment will become routine for certain categories of people.

As for me, I’m one of those who started having mammograms at 40 – and at 42 had my first biopsy – for a tumor I would never have found myself – it turned out to be benign – but I’ve not missed a year since and won’t. It’s too minor a preventive test to undergo to save something rather important to me – me.
Now, when are we going to see that expert medical report on why it’s totally unnecessary for men to have routine annual prostate exams? Now that would provoke a hue and cry!
- Sandy, Thornton

Check the USPSTF Web Site - all the members were appointed in or before August of 2008 by the Bush Administration. People need to do a little research into the health insurance laws, rules, and deregulation that were enacted by Bush giving health insurers greater profits (medicare part D) and allow them to put greater limits on our health care such as retroactive cancellation of benefits.
- Paul, Derry

This has politics written all over it, what I don't get is after all the action taken to catch breast cancer in it's early stage and treat as needed, who are these alleged, appointed "EXPERTS".

This is only the tip of the iceberg, and beware everyone, there is more to come. The current administration is using this as a test run to halt other early detection tests for other cancers and diseases.

Getting back to the breast cancer issue, I'm absolutely shocked womens rights advocates, Oprah, morning television shows (The View), GMA, Today Show, you name it, isn't all over this.

From a Political standpoint this stinks. Just imagine this announcement when former President Bush was in office. You can just imagine the outrage from the media. I dare say Bush would be accused of killing women.

But with Obama in office, there is not even a whisper, anywhere, except on talk radio and the internet, or places like this.

I urge everyone to call, write, email, whatever you can to our federal, state, and local officials and express outrage.

To close, I find it very ironic that President Obama is out of country when this hit the news, and why isn't our First Lady chiming in on this???
- Harry, Atkinson

Pelosi/Obama health care reform begins. One of the driving principles behind the health care reform push s that priority should be given to helping those who offer the greatest prospect of being a contributing member of society for the longest period of time. The elderly and disabled children and adults of any age are at the absolute bottom of the list since it is not economically beneficial to sink any money into these people. Ezekiel Emmanuel is one of Obama's chief health care advisers. Google him and read some of the speeches he's given and articles he's written. You'll see just where this health care reform is headed.
- Brian, Farmington

Despite the changing orthodoxy on mammograms (which is sure to change again), we are, for the moment, in America, where the final decision rests with the woman and her doctor, and the woman is free to choose another doctor if she wants more frequent testing.

What if this orthodoxy resulted in a decree that mammograms could not be provided anywhere in a universal-coverage, single-payer system? What if such decrees were made for the stated purpose of reducing "national spending on health care"?

Even if Obama and our Congressional delegation knew what was in the bill, it would still be more than a flawed implementation. It is a bad concept--like the Soviet Union--the same concept, in fact, and there is no way to make it work for American citizens; nor impose it on us, except by deception.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

I like so MANY other women had breast cancer last year... and it was a good thing that I had a mammo before age 50 because if I had waited, I too wouldn't be here today... and I didn't do self exams like so many other women... Even one of my oncologist told me she doesn't do self exams... so it was found on my routine mammo... prior to me being 50 with no history of breast cancer in my family as both my parents were adopted so who knows my family history... With breast cancer becoming so ramped I can't see this being an effective change in healthcare... If anything they need to reduce the age of colonoscopies to 40 because I also met so many people who had or have died of colon cancer in their early 40's but insurance says wait until your 50... Who are they kidding?
- Dee M, Manchester, NH

Next they will be saying that annual PAP smear exams are not necessary. The government run health care system will be full of these changes. Stand up now!!!
- Lauren, Boston, MA

This is the beginning of the Obamacare downfall. Next will be the well child care visits for children, then the vaccinations will be held off until the kids are older. Yearly physicals will go to bi yearly.

Sacrifice the Elderly, Women and Children first.
- Lisa, Manchester

Sounds like a death panel. Maybe there will be many death panels under Obamacare.
- Bob, Salem