Breast cancer survivors disagree with new mammogram advice

KIMBERLY BELLAMY

After losing her mother to cancer, Shelia Weeks, 61, was advised by her doctor to begin receiving mammograms when she was 36.

Her mother’s cancer was found in her liver, but started in her breast. There was no widespread detection method such as mammograms at that time. She passed away in 1982.

The suggestion made by Weeks' doctor got her in the routine of receiving mammograms and lead to a diagnosis of breast cancer 19 years ago. The Tarboro woman was diagnosed with breast cancer again in April, which led to her receiving a mastectomy and beating cancer a second time.

“I think everyone should get mammograms, because it saved my life two times,” Weeks said.

Other women may have a chance to save their lives if they learn they are at risk early, but a new recommendation made by a government task force has pushed the age to receive mammograms back 10 years.

The American Cancer Society has suggested women get a mammogram at age 40 on a yearly basis, but the United States Preventive Services Task Force said that women should wait until age 50 and get them every two years.

The task force is composed of 16 health care specialists, but none are oncologists.

Some women in a local breast cancer support group called Bosom Buddies are worried how the new recommendation may affect the amount of deaths in the area.

Edgecombe County has the 16th highest mortality rate in the nation due to breast cancer, according to a report released by Susan G. Komen in 2007.

“We have a hard enough time as it is when they reach age 40 to get them to get a mammogram,” said Frances Wright, member of Bosom Buddies.

Wright, 68, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 61 through a mammogram.

“I would certainly hate for my children to have to wait until they’re 50,” Wright said.

Wright’s children are in their 30s, and have already started receiving mammograms, because of Wright’s history with breast cancer.

The task force went even further by suggesting that self-breast exams weren’t necessary.

“I know of several people that found the lumps themselves,” Wright said.

“Most of the women in there have found their own lumps, or it was found on a mammogram,” Weeks said about women in Bosom Buddies.

The new recommendation to wait until age 50 for a mammogram seemed peculiar to both Weeks and Wright, because of the current debate of health care reform.

Weeks recalled bad experiences with her insurer trying to drop her coverage during times she needed it for breast cancer treatment.

“They will try to get out of it every way they can,” Weeks said.

“I think it’s going to be harder on women trying to take care of themselves.”

Wright said if the latest suggestion wasn’t just a part of an agenda concerning health care, then the recommendation should have been announced at another time.

“Timing isn’t good if that’s not the case. It comes at a bad time because it looks like it’s connected to health care,” Wright said.