11/21/2009 5:16:00 PM Editorial: Medical studies aside, do what's best for your own health
Medical science is a system of continually incoming data, so the facts we "know" are constantly shifting with new information. The need for annual mammogram has been so uncontested for so long, that when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently came up with different recommendations than what has become the norm for women over 40, the backlash was instant and emotional.
It took a long time to get average people to even talk about breast cancer let alone recognize it as a major killer among women. It took a long time to get insurance companies to recognize the risks of breast cancer and accept mammograms as part of annual physicals.
We just came through National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, in which even NFL players wore pink gloves in support of breast cancer research. We know breast cancer kills. We honor those who survive.
So the task force's recommendation to hold off until age 50 to begin mammography screening and then only get the exam every two years tends to drown out the most important recommendation in the study. That is, to talk to your physician and decide what is in your best interest.
The study came out at an ugly time - in the middle of the health-care reform debate on Capitol Hill - a fact that has had many eyeing the recommendations with suspicion. Many have already accused insurance companies and/or the federal government of trying to use the data as an excuse to cut coverage.
You should be looking out for you, your doctor should be looking out for you, and your health insurance provider must recognize that above any general studies. Cancer screenings can be emotional enough without a third party questioning the procedure's necessity.
As long as insurance companies, physicians and patients pay heed to the study's vital recommendation to do what is best for the individual patient, the task force data will have no negative impact on anyone's healthcare.
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Take care out on the roads
Two fatal man-vs.-vehicle collisions in as many days in Flagstaff again raise the warning flag for everybody on the roads. Drivers, keep your eyes open for other vehicles, bicycles and walkers.
Monday, Joshua Pete was killed in a gruesome way when his bicycle was struck by a City of Flagstaff truck. Tuesday, pedestrian Tracy Judd was hit by an SUV whose driver was apparently blinded by the low 4:20 p.m. sun. Judd later died from the injuries.
Whether it's a hectic traffic hour or whether the sun or bad weather is diminishing visibility, it's all good reason to take extra caution and be sure before proceeding. A little respect could save a life.
Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Mike
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) released a merged version of the Senate comprehensive reform on 11/19/09, which Mike Oliphant whom manages Utah health insurance plans for http://www.benefitsmanager.net/selecthealth.html employers could get behind and support some of it (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or H.R. 3590). This should encourage the private sector health insurance carriers to form INSURANCE EXCHANGES which is what we have done here in Utah. They carry the risk and burden, not the tax payer. See more about this at www.utahhealthplans.info
