Monday, November 16, 2009

So Now, The Government Has Decided Women Under 50 Years Old Don't Need A Mammagram...

So, I guess if Mr. Snooty's cousin who recently had a DOUBLE Mastectomy should have just waited for it to kill her? According to the government, that's exactly what they mean. I had a handful of friends over the years who were NOT at high risk and still got breast cancer AND they were all under forty. Hubby's cousin is in her late 30's, she wasn't a high risk for cancer and she still got breast cancer. So, exactly what group of women were they referring to? In my world that shit just isn't going to fly because that assumption simply isn't true.

Breast cancer is still the number 2 killer of women in this country, as well as some men. What in the sam hell are these people thinking? There is more and more cancer all the time and these ass-hats want to put out the word so that insurance companies don't have to cover the Mammagrams if a woman under 50 decides to have one? I'm sorry, but what kind of horse-shit are they shoveling up there in Washington DC? Do they think that will help us with our high premiums we already pay for insurance? Or with the deductible that has to be met before they pay a red cent cent as it is? Come on people! Looks to me like we might need some changes made in some seats up there in DC.

I am so upset about this that I'm spitting nails. I just wish I could spit the freaking nails all the way to Washington and hit my target.... Just when curing breast cancer has really gotten successful. This is just insane! Insane, I tell you! They can say whatever they want on the news... I'm not buying it. It makes me wonder how long it took them to find these doctors who endorse this decision by the government.

I mean, it was Congress who passed it before, that we should all have one every so many years, up until 40. Once a woman turns 40 she's encouraged to get one every five years and once she hits 50, every 2 years. These procedures are not cheap, which means now that a lot of younger women are going to have breast cancer and not be aware of it until it's probably too late.

I UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY the reasons they spouted about why this should be done. I just think it should be left up to the individual, not the government or the insurance companies. Why don't they stick their little piggy snouts in their own business?

I suggest to the government that if they want to stick their noses where it doesn't belong, then perhaps they should look at the pay they vote for themselves every few years or so. How about that? Like maybe Congress could take a whopping large cut in pay like the rest of the working country, or perhaps get nothing for doing their job like the countless Americans out of work. I'm really liking that idea.

Okay, thank you for letting me get this off my chest. I was almost in tears after hearing the news tonight. Obviously, I don't feel vindicated in any way, but I at least feel like I just cornered some Congressman and kicked him in the shins up against a wall. I'm sure I could never physically get close to any of the Washington bigwigs, so I'm simply going to have to be satisfied with another one of my crazy rants.

And, don't try to tell me I'm wrong because I don't care. I spent more than 8 years on the board of the local American Cancer Society, helped to bring the first Hospice here, and lost many friends and loved ones to this scourge of a disease. It's my rant and I'm sticking with it.

18 comments:

Flea said...

You go, girl. This administration has done more to piss me off than any other.

Green-Eyed Momster said...

You go, Snooty! I wish you were in charge of everything.

Hugs!!

Sjn said...

my sis-in-law also had breast cancer in her late 30's... I totally agree with you girl!
I'm about to go in for my 2nd cancer surgery and believe me, keep the #<*:! gov't away from my healthcare!

Diane said...

Go Snooty! I watched two aunts battle this and lost two great grandmother's to it. Breast cancer sucks. I think we should err on the side of caution.

Marilyn *Pink Martinis and Pearls* said...

I even say thank god for a baseline at 35! It's all a matter of insurance companies delaying the cost to pay for them. Travesty. I've known 4 women who have had bc before they were 40. 3 are all healthy because they caught it early and 1 was able to prolong her life by 10 years. There is no time to lose. This will never fly. Women are very powerful when we band together. The government hasn't seen what a literal group of "muthas" we can be! Unite!!! :) xoxo

Snooty Primadona said...

SJN: I'm so sorry to hear you're going back in for another cancer surgery. I wish you the best my friend.

Staci said...

I have 3 friends who've had it - one is a 20-year survivor; one just finished the chemo; and the other - it had spread before it was found. She's undergoing treatment now.

I think it's just a taste of things to come if this administration gets their health care travesty passed.

But you can bet Nancy Pelosi will get a different kind of healthcare than will be available to all of us.

Mental P Mama said...

It's unspeakable. I think "they" should delay PSA screening until 70....

Daryl said...

I think if your family has a history of cancer, you are not going to have to fight to get tested/get mammos ..
What's more no one has said this is a done deal


And, I apologize up front for this but, FLEA .. this administration is no worse than the previous one .. which in case you forgot was the one which put this country into an unnecessary war, ruined the economy and made the US into an even uglier version of the Ugly American it was perceived as.

imbeingheldhostage said...

Seriously Snooty, you think someone is going to argue with you? Our govt has gone insane, that's all I can add-- except that Flea didn't say THIS administration was WORSE than the other, she said this one is pissing her off more than any other. SO not the time to take the focus off of what this post is about.

Pam said...

Hear, hear, Snooty. I had my first mammogram at 40 and from it they discovered what was, thankfully, a benign cyst. But you can bet your life that I pony up that mammogram cost every year...and now I don't have insurance and it is not cheap.

Ronnica said...

This is exactly why the thought of any government-run health care gives me the willies...

Golf Girl said...

It's a huge, huge issue. And the thing is I can't seem to figure out what the answer is or who is proposing the best possible solution.

It seems clear that the insurance companies and the private health care system is not working at all as more and more people have no coverage at all and those who do have coverage have less. On the other hand many seem to be against a public option. So how does one figure out what's best? >:o0

I know I would want to be able to vote against any system that covers Viagra while overlooking basic women's tests, treatments and proceedures.

imom said...

I had my first mamo at 43, my second at 46 and my third just weeks after the second because of some questionable spots that thankfully was nothing. At my last physical my dr. recommended getting one every year.

I guess I don't understand the reason for less screening. I mean in the long run wouldn't insurance companies spend less money for screening to find and treat a problem early than spending $1,000's for long drawn out treatments after it's gone too far?

Snooty Primadona said...

imom: Oh, Hello! Must be entirely too simplified for the government to understand...

noble pig said...

I know it sounds crazy however, I'm 38 and never had a mammogram. My husband, an OB/GYN had told me for years and years and YEARS...that I should not start Mammography until age 50...that the slightest radiation over those years increases the risk of breast cancer more so than the incidence of being diagnosed without. He has said this for at east 10 years. Honestly I don't know what I think, there is validity on both sides of this argument.

Heather Kerrigan said...

The U.S. Preventive Service Task Force is an outside independent panel of doctors and scientists who make recommendations. This is the group responsible for this new recommendation. This "Task Force" reports to the Dept. of Health and Human Services.

Here is a list of the members of this task force. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/USpstfab.htm#Members

I'm curious how many are actually practicing doctors still.

It's sad because my insurance company had recently started covering mammos for women of all ages. Now I'm sure that will change.

I'd don't know who initially requested this review. My guess is that it was the Administration, not Congress.

What a mess!

Snooty Primadona said...

Well, and the worst part about all of this is the media coming on with the evening news saying "Today the government came out with this new decision about women and mammograms...." Then the next day the details they failed to mention the day before, only they say it like it was just released to them, which is complete crap. I don't know why I even watch the damned news media anyway. All they want to do is stir up the pot.

 

Blog Designed by: NW Designs