To mammogram or not to mammogram

The subject at breakfast with Carol this morning was a new federal study - The United States Preventive Task Force (USPTF) - that essentially said that they found it wasn't really necessary to have early mammograms starting at age 40. It went on to say that even after age 50 mammograms were necessary only every other year. The study sited that many mammograms generated false readings that led to patient anxiety and worry. It also stated that the false readings caused a high percentage of biopsies to come back negative, which made for unnecessary high medical bills and the aforementioned stress and anxiety. It also mentions how some biopsies actually caused disfigurement. The study also recommended against self examinations as it leads to more unnecessary biopsies, especially with women with denser breasts.

Now here is the kicker for me. It said only one life out of a thousand women is all that is actually saved by early detection as opposed to four hundred plus that suffer a false reading that leads to stress and anxiety and an ultimate clean bill of health.

So, the study says that the unwarranted worry and anxiety of four hundred plus women out of a thousand is worth one life. Huh?

I'm not a Doctor but I wonder at the logic of all this. Talk to your Doctor about this study but personally, as a husband and a father I want my girls to self exam and Carol to take regular mammograms. I'd rather be anxious and stressed than sorry.