BHB & BHeC On Mammography Screenings
[Updated] The Bermuda Health Council [BHec] has released a document titled “Screening Mammography Guidelines: What Patients Need to Know About Mammography,” offering information and guidelines on how women can receive optimal care in Bermuda.
The document says, “For healthy women with no symptoms, no prior diagnosis and no family history, the USPSTF recommends screening mammograms every two years between the ages of 50 and 74 years.
“Women with symptoms or who are at high risk [e.g. past diagnosis, immediate family member with breast cancer, used hormones for menopause for 5 years, etc] should talk to their doctor to determine the best course of action. Your personal characteristics and circumstances will determine what is best for you.
“Introducing standardized guidelines will help to ensure women receive the right level of care consistently. If Bermuda adheres to these screening guidelines we can create better population health.
“Your health insurance covers screening mammograms within the USPSTF guidelines or with a physician referral for women at risk.”
For more information, contact the Bermuda Health Council by email at healthcouncil@bhec.bm or via phone on 292-6420.
The full guidelines follow below [PDF here]:
Update 1.20pm: In a separate statement, Bermuda Hospitals Board Chief of Staff Dr Michael Weitekamp said, “BHB supports the guidelines, which are based on evidence derived from voluminous research involving many hundreds of thousands of women from multiple countries and sponsored by neutral public authorities.
“The guidelines still allow and support decisions made by women and their physicians when reviewing their individual circumstances. Women can receive mammograms prior to 50 if their physicians refer them. Women who have known risk factors will be covered in having mammograms earlier and more regularly; women [and men] who have potential symptoms [such as a felt lump, breast discharge, nipple changes] will be screened irrespective of age and risk factors; and women with no known risk factors will be screened every two years between 50 and 74. This is similar to Canada, Australia and the UK, where they screen every two years starting at 50.
“We all want to do the best we can to catch cancer earlier, when it is often more treatable. This can make us fearful and want screening earlier. However, screening every year from 40 is not risk-free and still is not a ‘catch all’. Some women with very high risks should be screened earlier, and even the most frequent screening programmes do not catch all breast cancers. National screening guidelines, therefore, must rely on the best data and research; this tells us that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, and that risk factors or symptoms should drive decisions for early testing.
“Finally, women should make sure they are familiar with their own bodies to notice changes that may prompt a conversation with their physician, irrespective of screening frequency and aim to live a healthy, active lifestyle to help prevent the disease altogether.”
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It would be interesting to hear what Bermuda TB Cancer and Health have to say on this issue.
I stand by my position that you are pronouncing a death sentence on some women with these new regulations. What happens to the woman who is under 50, no symptoms, no genetic markers, no family history, who finds out at 50 that she has full blown cancer? Something that, if caught earlier, could have be easily dealt with. The difference between a calcification and metastasized. Now her insurance has to pay out triple or quadruple the amount of money to treat her. The United States is not right on everything you know!
I had a friend that did not appear to be high risk, had no family history, was told that she was too young to have mammograms…she has since passed away from breast cancer. Had her breast cancer been detected early, she would have been alive today. Further, when she asked if it would be better to remove both breasts, she was told by a local doctor that she was too young. Unfortunately, it spread throughout her body. Why do insurance companies/KEMH/Councils try to dictate people’s health and how they should be treated?
What insurance company is trying to dictate this? I’ve seen statements from the Minister of Health, the Shadow Minister of Health, BHB and BHeC. I haven’t seen any comments or statements from any of the insurers.
I am sure that they would not agree. They are on the ball. This new protocol can land some unsuspecting woman in big trouble. This is an insurance cost saving measure.
It is very unfortunate that this legislation is even being introduced by
the Health Minister, who is a woman. In my opinion it’s about money. In fact the American Cancer Society, recommends that women should have mammograms starting at 40yrs, and beyond, The test should be done on a yearly basis.
The question must be asked, why is this gov’t in such a rush, to put this antiquated law into practice? If approved, who will benefit from this action? Why is it that, the insurance companies will still raise health premiums? I just wonder will the women who sit on the gov’t benches, have the integrity, and backbone, to say NO?
Ok ..I feel xrays are dangerous and utilised only when deemed necessary!…you can develope cancer from overt testing…why “for instance” do you imagine they put lead lined bibs and such…the bib itself is irradiated…no no no…if you want have an ultra sound or cat scan…ultra sound is a lap top and a cd with a sounder and jelly…you could actually purchase your own device and take a short course online and do your own!They find blood clunks too!