AskCherlock » Blog Archive » Women: Pawns In The Health Care Debate?

Politics-Opinions-Life Issues-Impact!

Women: Pawns in Health Care Debate?

22 November 2009 14 Comments

This week sparked outcries of confusion and outrage from women as new proposals for time frames on mammograms and pap smears were introduced. For as long as I can remember we have had guidelines adhered to by our physicians in recommending that we get these tests done on a regular basis. We have been told to get early-detection cancer screening through both of these tests. Mammograms were started in our 40′s and pap smears started at age eighteen. In proposed cost-saving measures put forth in Health Care Reform, a woman would now wait until she is in her 50′s for a mammogram and age twenty-one for a pap smear, with women over thirty having the test every three years. So the confusion began and stalwarts from both sides of the aisle screamed “foul.”

The further ahead women get, the further behind we are. Whom do we believe and will this actually be a form of health care rationing? It will be fought out on the floor of the Senate, I suppose, but many of those doing battle are men who have no worries about such illnesses, unless they care about the women in their lives. I have always found it a bit suspicious that these tests are wretchedly uncomfortable and no doubt, designed by men who didn’t give two hoots as long as their own hoots stayed in place.

Let’s talk about mammograms, for example. Here is a test where each of your breasts, one at a time, is squeezed between two vice-like plates that take images. I say “squeezed” as in it hurts like hell! It bring tears to your eyes and the equipment is damn cold. And then there is the pap smear. Think stirrups and a cold (again, with the cold) metal thing like a tire jack inserted so the gynecologist can get a smear to be tested. Sadists!

I remember one year having so much trepidation about getting a mammogram that I did the unthinkable. I had given my boss a leave slip for personal time one afternoon, so I could get my test done. While driving to my appointment, I thought, “Hmmm, I can go get my breasts squashed till I cry, or I can use my time off from work and go to a movie.” The movie won. But I paid for it the next year when I did go for the mammogram. The results, they said, looked “suspicious” and they needed me to come in for an ultra-sound. Five days later! It was the longest five days of my life. I was sure I had cancer, and every conceivable scenario went through my mind. It turned out that I did not have breast cancer, but every year since, I have been required to have both tests done. Thankfully they are scheduled on the same day.

The point is, most women are diligent about getting these tests, in spite of the discomfort. Too many of us have female friends or relatives who have been diagnosed with cancer, some at an early age. If the new time frames have been put out there as a form of political play, using women like chess pieces on a board, I will have the screaming me-me’s. We need to know just what is a stake here. I am all for cost-saving but not at the irresponsible behest of a supposed board of who knows who’s. I want real answers. Women everywhere should demand them, irrespective of Party lines. We are not chess pieces. We will not be pawns. Call your Congressman; call your Senator. Get the answers.

—cher

14 Comments »

ONE of THE GUYS said:

I agree. Women, men…no one should be used as pawns.

What I heard was that an “independent” (yeah, right) study was done and they determined that having a mammogram before 50 gave too many false positives and increased anxiety. It’s unclear to me whether or not this drove the agenda on the health care bill. It seems a lot of people don’t have all the information, including me!

And coming from a family with a history of breast cancer, that doesn’t make sense to me. A little anxiety is sure better than finding out too late.

# 22 November 2009 at 7:46 pm

admin (author) said:

One of The Guys,
You are right in that “false positives” are not sufficient reason to change the time frames. I don’t think anyone is clear on the intent of this message, but women’s lives are at risk. It is so refreshing to hear a man voice such concern. Thanks for weighing in.

# 22 November 2009 at 8:09 pm

bluzdude said:

I think that if men had to have their cajones squeezed in a vice every year, they would have a pretty damned good set of data on every conceivable angle regarding the tests, and there would be very little gray area.

# 22 November 2009 at 9:40 pm

admin (author) said:

bluzdude,
Fabulous suggestion! Did you ever hear, “This is A Man’s World” by James Brown?

# 22 November 2009 at 10:38 pm

DorothyL said:

This is just another issue that wreaks of self-serving bureaucrats to me.

Do we not have enough women in the senate to ward off being ignored and/or undermined?
Where is the divine Lady Obama when we need her…instead of sporting $500.00 runners she should be worried about her breasts and the breasts of her own daughter…oh pardon me…they are more than likely above the law of being treated like a mere voter or citizen.

Do we have to do the topless march in front of the White House to make this point?…hm…maybe this is their plan..lol. Had to add a bit of humor to this very serious nightmare we are living in.

This is not a good thing. It seems as you mentioned in your post that we are going two steps forward and ten steps backward.

Sad times indeed!

# 23 November 2009 at 9:56 am

admin (author) said:

D,
Mrs. Obama should weigh in on this, I agree. As a woman who is a role model, she would certainly be heard.

The “voice of the people” includes women, last I checked. It is time for righteous outrage to be expressed. Where are the activists for women’s rights?

# 23 November 2009 at 10:34 am

ChrisJ said:

I believe this has found its way to Canada, as well. One does wonder; is it a case of “follow the money” or good research?

# 23 November 2009 at 5:13 pm

admin (author) said:

Chris J,
That appears to be the appropriate question, doesn’t it.

# 23 November 2009 at 5:26 pm

Tina T said:

I have to admit that I was shocked to hear all this last week. My understanding is that for whatever reason the type of breast cancer often discovered in a woman’s forties is a particularly aggressive type which is why the recommendation started at forty for all women and a baseline at 35 for those with risk factors. This is why I don’t listen to the general recommendations from any organization, I tend to stick with what my doctor recommends. Of course if you don’t have a doctor that you trust it makes it very hard to know what to believe.

# 23 November 2009 at 5:41 pm

admin (author) said:

Tina T,
I guess that one of my concerns is, will whatever health care plan you’re in cover these tests if they are done outside the ‘guidelines”? And, I know two women over 50 who learned they had aggressive breast cancer after their yearly exam. It’s all a bit confusing and I don’t like being in the dark about it.

# 23 November 2009 at 5:47 pm

Dorothy Stahlnecker said:

I guess your right. Where is the First Lady? Maybe we bloggers should be sending her some letters from us and speaking up on the Huffington Post which is where she got her start..from blogging.

I’m outraged as well and remember I am a Breast Cancer survivor. I missed a mammogram for a year and that second year is when it was diagnosed and then in Jan 08 I had further Ovarian Cancer chemo…and all the frills which go with it… This has got to stop and we are the wall which could make it happen. I hope someone puts a plan together including us bloggers and if they do I’m in..

Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com

# 24 November 2009 at 6:38 am

admin (author) said:

Dorothy S,
Your story is heart-wrenching. I am so glad you are here with us as a survivor. It is stories like yours which need to be told.

I did—at last—see an interview last night with Gloria Steinem, long time activist for women, talking about the confusing signals sent by the “Independent Panel.” It was an encouraging sign. She is a breast cancer survivor as well.

You do have a voice. Write about your experience on your blog. Get your story out there and perhaps email it to your Congressman and Senator. We came close to losing you. Thankfully we didn’t. Let us now think about other women who may be more at risk if proper time frames are not implemented.

Sometimes great trials can be channeled into positive action. I have faith in your ability to do that, and I will pray for your continued good health.

# 24 November 2009 at 10:24 am

Windroot said:

I think the folks behind these recommendations are sincere and are just going where they see the data taking them. Two problems, with that.

First,the data changes all the time so patients are understandably confused. you could follow these new guidelines and then 10 years from now be told oops, shoulda stuck with the old ones.

Second, the minute I heard this the first thought I had was that the insurance companies would very quickly say no mammograms under 50.

Nothing’s easy.

# 25 November 2009 at 9:00 pm

admin (author) said:

Windroot,
Those who made these suggestions are on very dangerous ground. It sounds all too much about money, and all too little about women’s health. You are right; nothing is easy, especially the issues which should be.

# 27 November 2009 at 6:12 pm