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Can Mammograms Be Harmful?

I have been putting off my yearly mammogram. I’ve had one almost every year since I turned 40, as dictated by someone somewhere as the thing I was supposed to do. Recently, there has been some controversy as to whether the “need to start having mammograms” age was 40 or 50. Now, there is another controversy – that routine mammograms can cause breast cancers to be overly treated. Overly treated? If you have breast cancer, can treatment really be overly? Maybe not, but maybe so says Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, who recently coauthored an analysis of mammograms published in The … Continue reading →

Being Called Back After a Mammogram

What happens when you get the call that further tests are needed after your normal annual mammogram? It happened to me. (If you need to catch up on my story, you can read this and this.) So there I was in the waiting room, just having had another series of views of my left breast. I fidgeted with the various magazines on the table and wrapped my too-large gown closer around my body. It was cold. I was told that the images would be read immediately and then someone would come and tell me if an ultrasound were needed. That … Continue reading →

Insurance Blog Week in Review – April 29 – May 5, 2012

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Every week, the Insurance Blog Week in Review quickly goes over all of the blogs that were posted in the past seven days. There can be anywhere between twelve and fourteen different blogs that appear here weekly. What did you miss? This is an easy way to “ketchup” on everything. Ohio Requires Insurance Coverage for Exotic Animals Ohio now requires owners of exotic animals to purchase a certain amount of liability insurance coverage for each animal they own. They also have to prove that they are providing proper care for the animals, and that they have good fences. The Insurance … Continue reading →

Aetna Covers Woman’s Mammogram After All

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Typically, a health insurance policy will cover the cost of a mammogram. Aetna refused to cover the cost of Beth Scott’s mammogram because she was born male and changed her sex to female. After a long appeal, Aetna has agreed to cover her mammogram after all. Beth Scott is 44 years old. She gets her health insurance through her employer, like many Americans do. She has worked for eleven years as a data integrity specialist for a high-tech company. Her doctor recommended that she get a mammogram, because of her age. This should have been a procedure that was automatically … Continue reading →

What is Going on with My Breast?

I debated about writing this post, giving away too much information, but then I thought that however things unfold, the post might help another woman. I am further inspired by all of the courage and candidness of my fellow blogger, Tammy, whose own journeys through cancer have helped many, I’m sure. So here goes. Yesterday morning I had a routine mammogram. My doctor prefers screening annually after the age of 40. A couple of hours later, I received a call at home from the radiology department. “Mrs. Romans, the radiologist wants to take another look at your left breast. We … Continue reading →

What Is It Like to Get a Mammogram?

If you have never gotten a mammogram, you may be a little anxious about the process. Here is what it is like and what you can expect during your first mammogram. I remember the first time that I got a mammogram. It was an interesting experience and I wished I had known a little more about the process before I had to get one done. Then again, I am the kind of person who grills the oral surgeon for all of the gruesome details about how exactly he plans on extracting my embedded wisdom tooth. Don’t worry, it isn’t that … Continue reading →

A Mysterious Phone Call from an Insurer

When an insurance company calls you on the phone, it is rarely because they have wonderful news for you. I cannot figure out why this particular insurance company called me, considering that I have already canceled the policy that I had with them. It is a bit of a mystery. My husband was going through the voice mail messages on our phone today. He told me that there was a message for me, from the insurance company that we just canceled our policy from. We had no idea what the purpose of this phone call was. The call came from … Continue reading →

New Mammogram Guidelines

On the news tonight they were talking about the new guidelines for mammograms for women over the age of 50. They are now saying that women should only be screened every two years so that it reduces the false positives by 50%. Ok what about the women who would be caught the 1st year while it is still in its early stages then by the time year two comes around they would have a more advanced cancer diagnosis. Now I am sure the insurance companies would love not having to pay for them every year but come on what is … Continue reading →

My First Mammogram

So if you have never had a mammogram than you have never had a “boobie pancake”, before I had mine everyone lied to me. They all told me it wasn’t bad, yeah right!!! I am going to be honest I guess there could have been things that were worse but, off the top of my head I cannot think of what it would be. I am not positive who invented the mammogram but I am convinced either it was a man or a female into pain. Here is how my day went… First, my husband came because I think he … Continue reading →

When Should I Get a Mammogram?

Do you know when you should start having regular mammograms? Educate yourself. It could save your life. 40 or 50? The other day, I got a little letter in the mail reminding me that I need to make my next appointment for a mammogram. If I were to follow the new guidelines about mammogram recommendations, my breasts might be flying under the radar. That is, unless I found a problem, I wouldn’t be getting the test each year. And since breast cancer is most curable when in the early stages, for someone who develops the disease, her story could end … Continue reading →