Last night an “independent” panel of experts (no oncologists on board at one point, not sure about today) recommended that women now receive mammograms after fifty years of age instead of forty, one every other year and no longer recommend teaching young women self-exams.  They also see no “benefit” to clinic/physician exams!  Gack!

We all know sub-40s who have found lumps and have been treated successfully.  We also know women, also sub-40, who found lumps who died of breast cancer.

What could be happening here?  I fear that services to women are in danger of being cut (is this an understatement?).

I have written to my senator and urge you to as well.  Sign any petition that you can.  Write to your insurance company and quick!  It’s an outrage that simple preventive care is being marked as superfluous when half, no more, of our population may have to deal with this particular issue.

Oh wait, since we all have breasts….I guess that makes 100% of us are dealing with this issue.

(elk painting)
4 5/8″ square
acrylic on panel
october - november 2009