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Doctors at Mary Washington Hospital offer support for earlier breast cancer screening Date published: 12/1/2009
BY JIM HALL Cancer specialists at Mary Washington Hospital say they will continue to recommend routine mammograms for women in their 40s, rather than delay the screenings as suggested by a federal panel. A dozen members of the hospital's Cancer Committee said in a statement released last week that earlier screenings save lives. "Each of us has treated patients in their 40s who without mammography and breast self-exam would have gone years without knowing they had breast cancer," the statement said. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an advisory panel of physicians and scientists, said Nov. 16 that most women can wait until their 50s to begin routine mammography. But several physician and patients groups objected, including the American Cancer Society, the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the American College of Radiology. The groups said they support the current guidelines for breast cancer screening, which recommend that annual mammography for most women begin at age 40. The Mary Washington doctors also supported earlier screenings, saying, "Since the onset of regular mammography screenings in 1990, the mortality rate for breast cancer has decreased by 30 percent. It was stagnant for the preceding 50 years." The group--which includes radiologists, surgeons, oncologists and a pathologist--also said the final decision should be between a woman and her doctor, taking into account her family history and other risk factors. "We have the tools to fight breast cancer early, saving many lives," the statement concluded. Members of the Cancer Committee meet every other week to discuss treatments for their cancer patients, said Dr. Kay Blanchard, a surgeon and program leader for the group. Dr. Aye Min, a radiologist at Mary Washington, wrote the statement soon after the federal panel published its recommendation, Blanchard said. Blanchard and the other members of the group signed it. They include Drs. Donald Allen, John Chinault, James Daniel, George Fish, Anne Geyer, Michael Hewitt, Charles Maurer, Sudeep Menachery, Frederick Tucker and Wilson Sprenkle. Jim Hall: 540/374-5433
IF your blood sugars are relatively well controlled AND IF you are NOT taking insulin, recent guidelines suggest you may be able to reduce frequency of testing, thus saving supplies, to 3-5 times per week. Ask the physician who knows your individual case the best.
covered and the effects of uncontrolled sugar over time (such as blindness, kidney failure, amputations, etc) are VERY expensive to treat. I just find it hard to believe that an insurance company would not cover at least part of testing supplies-that's so stupid-save $1000 a year now in claims only to have to spend $50,000 or more later. Like I stated previously, check your policy again-it doesn't make sense, especially if it's a govt policy.
is because my mother and step-father also have Type II Diabetes and their testing supplies are covered by their Govt Blue Cross Policy (my stepfather is retired from the Postal Service). Not covering testing supplies is a really bad business decision on the ins company's part, if they in fact don't cover them. Strips are not cheap, but are far less than many medications out there and regular testing helps to keep sugar levels stable and in a safe range. Too many would just skip testing if strips aren't
I also have Type II Diabetes and my private insurance (Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield) covers my testing supplies, less my mail order pharmacy co-pay of $40 for a 90 day supply. Of course, I have to use their preferred meter and strips (One Touch) or they pay nothing. You might want to check again with your insurance. My policy is through the company I work for, but if you have the same insurance as congress and the govt, I'm pretty certain that they do cover testing supplies. The reason I'm fairly sure
insurance. In fact, I have the same kind that the
Congressman get ... and you know what?
they do NOT cover my Glucose Testing at all.
I must buy the meter and the test strips out of my own
pocket.
Now WHERE ..did THAT ... STANDARD come from?
Bonus Question: Don't ya'll think that my insurance
company by not paying for my testing is rationing care?
Double Bonus Question::
Did you know that Medicare DOES COVER Diabetes
testing>?
Now why do they cover it but private insurance does not?
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