morsdeus' blog

mammograms and the politicization of fear

 abuse

There has been much hype about the release of the US Preventative Services report on the efficacy of mammograms in preventing breast cancer.  The greatest amount of hype has been initiated by the right wing and the GOP by politicizing the report to build fear over the looming health care reform debate.  As usual, the politics of fear have sensationalism as their foundation and are rarely grounded in truth.

The populist rage we hear regarding the report is based on the fact that people believe the report is associated with the health care reform bill approved by the House in recent weeks and that the report will prevent or impede women between the ages of 40 and 49 from receiving breast cancer screenings.

Regardless of what has been claimed by Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, FoxNews, and a handful of Republican officials, this is simply not the case.

The report concluded that women beyond the age of 50 should receive mammograms bi-annually as part of a breast cancer screening and prevention routine.  The report also concluded that women between the ages of 40-49 should consult their physician about receiving such screenings.

This conclusion was reached by the team of doctors and statisticians based purely on statistical and numerical data.  The conclusion was reached because they found that only a small percentage of women between the ages of 40-49 benefited from screenings and the negative consequences including anxiety, stress, and time, outweighed the potential benefits within the age bracket.

The report did conclude, however, that women within the age bracket consult with their physician about receiving mammograms as a screening tool.  This would allow that any doctors that favor screening for this age bracket (doctors are nearly evenly split on the issue) would recommend that the screening be done.  Further, patients with a family history of breast cancer, other cancers, or patients in high risk groups such as smokers or those flagged for genetic susceptibility would be encouraged to receive mammograms.

Likely, those with no family history and/or in low risk groups would be informed of the pros and cons and work out their decision with their doctor.  Importantly, any who choose to receive the screening within the age group, as far as the report is concerned, would retain that right.

With that settled, let’s address the politicization of the report as it pertains to the health care debate.

The right wing and the GOP have been extremely vocal in frightening women and the population that reports like this will become commonplace and prevent women from receiving life saving treatments if the health care bill passes.

Contrary to such a notion, reports like this have been devised and released for many, many years; long before the current health care debate.  Even more telling, private insurance companies fund studies like this all the time and actually use the reports to limit which procedures they will cover.

This report has not in any way been associated with the health care bill.  Even before all the politicization and fear mongering by the right, a statement was made claiming that the results of the report will in no way affect health care as described in the bill.  Ms. Sebelius ha made that official yesterday saying that mammograms will be covered for women aged 40-49 after the health care bill passes.  Other members of the Obama administration and the Democratic leadership in congress have also stressed that coverage of mammograms for women aged 40-49 using them for screening will not be changed.

So perhaps the real disgust should be deflected away from a team of doctors and statisticians who were merely doing their job and reaching the conclusion that the data supported and be shifted toward those who would politicize and take advantage of our fears to advance a political agenda.

The research team reached a conclusion that was based on numbers—absent the human factor.  With that data, those who make policy must add back in the human factor.  Policy makers have done just that and decided to recommend screening for women aged 40-49, regardless of the report’s conclusion.

I think some humanity should be added to those who would politicize such a sensitive topic for their own political gain.  Therein is truly where humanity seems to be lacking.

**UPDATE**

Here is Kathleen Sebelius' official statement:

“There is no question that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations have caused a great deal of confusion and worry among women and their families across this country. I want to address that confusion head on. The U.S. Preventive Task Force is an outside independent panel of doctors and scientists who make recommendations. They do not set federal policy and they don’t determine what services are covered by the federal government. 

“There has been debate in this country for years about the age at which routine screening mammograms should begin, and how often they should be given. The Task Force has presented some new evidence for consideration but our policies remain unchanged. Indeed, I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action.

“What is clear is that there is a great need for more evidence, more research and more scientific innovation to help women prevent, detect, and fight breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women.

“My message to women is simple. Mammograms have always been an important life-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today. Keep doing what you have been doing for years -- talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions, and make the decision that is right for you.”

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