Who's Afraid of a false positive test?

[thriftymom]

Well my bloods a boiling again.....I want to know how many women on this board would be more afraid of receiving a false positive report of breast cancer, than not being allowed to receive a test at all?????  The new guidelines for women and mammograms, are saying women don't really need one until age 50 due to the high number of false positives. I don't know about you, but I would much rather receive the news that there might be something wrong, and have a chance to have things checked out early, than to not be tested at all!!  I mean really...yes, it would be very scary to go in and have a mammogram, and have the Dr. tell me that they found a mass that needs to be tested, but think of the alternatives...you won't be allowed to be tested at all until 50, and by then you could have cancer that has spread to far to effectively treat. Look at all the lives that have been saved by testing early? Why would they change this?  *****MONEY***** that's why. It's not cost effective!!!!! But it's okay to let women develop breast cancer....I don't think so!  What makes me laugh at this whole situation is this...let's pretend it's men..... we'll say cancer of the penis for an example...can you imagine the outrage if this test was taken away from men?????  wait ...maybe that's a little far fetched....how about....men can no longer have Viagra, because it is only effective half the time.....do you think they would get rid of this drug......Heck no...it makes to much money....My head is spinning..I just don't get it....I feel so sad for the women who will no longer feel it is necessary to be tested due to the new guidelines, or due to the fact that insurance will no longer cover it....and then find out to late that they have breast cancer. Something needs to be done about health care and soon..or we are all going to be denied services that are needed. And if this is the new standard of government care, or a taste of what is to come..then count me out...I'll buy my own!!!

[sati769leigh]

Nov. 19, 2009 at 8:26 AM

i agree. women are gonna be SCREWED due to MONEY. rather than allow reasonable testing, they are now gonna make us wait unless we can pay OOP.