Regarding the article “Mammography debate heats up with new study”, just how exactly might a change in guidelines mean we are doing a better job of preventing breast cancer? Tell that to the 42-year-old who is saved by a mammogram when, if she'd waited till age 50, she would face a much tougher prognosis. And if you delay detection, how much more disfiguring and painful treatment, including lymph node dissection, might be needed? Early detection means better survival and better treatment options.
The anti-mammogram faction clearly sees women as statistics. The way our society is moving, this mindset will only spread, cheapening human life. If the Independent Payment Advisory Board and “comparative effectiveness” parts of the Affordable Care Act are not repealed, our lives will be measured by how much we cost to treat.
Donna Hamilton
Fairfax, Va.
