New diagnostic guidelines
Yesterday I went for my 3rd diagnostic mammogram. I was told they had changed the guidelines to having only 2 diagnostic mammograms after breast cancer. She said they could do the mammo today and send me my results or I could wait but this would be my last diagnostic mammogram.
Well my take on this is two fold, I think they are doing it because diagnostic mammograms are not covered by insurance only after a deductible is paid where as screening are covered by all insurance for free. 2nd they can farm out those images and you have no idea who is reading them. With a diagnostic one here I know the radiologist personally who is reading it as soon as my mammogram is done. Also if there is a problem I can have another view done or ultrasound etc. without having to wait days being stressed.
One of the reasons they started doing diagnostic mammograms was because women complained that the stress of waiting was horrible, and it is!!!
And now they have only 2 years after diagnosis and treatment, that's insane and it's also what I consider to be rationing health care.
Yesterday I waited and she came back and gave me good news that I was fine and "see you next year for your screening ", we will see about that I'm discussing that with my surgeon next week.
As women who have had breast cancer we need to stick together and demand to continue having diagnostic mammograms forever if we want it that way.
Thanks for listening to my venting 🙂 wishing all of us good health!
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.
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