As you have probably noticed, October is breast cancer awareness month, and everyone is wearing pink as a reminder. The pink ribbon became a symbol for breast cancer in the early 1990s, although it receives a lot more publicity now, partly as a result of health care reform. According to the web site www.thinkcancer.com, Charlotte Haley began manufacturing peach ribbons and passing them out with cards that asked Americans to spend more money on cancer prevention. Estee Lauder and Self magazine then asked for permission to use the peach ribbon and Ms. Haley thought they were too commercial and denied their request. The companies chose pink because it was found to be “comforting, soothing and healing.” It has since been a worldwide symbol for breast cancer.
This month, I have seen football teams wearing pretty pink shoes, and you see the pink ribbon on many other athletic uniforms. Although pink is not traditionally a manly color, it sure makes those guys wearing the pink ribbons, and honoring those who have suffered due to breast cancer, appear very manly!
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American women. In the last few years, there has been some controversy regarding recommended screening for breast cancer. This has become a big issue within the health care reform movement. There are some clear cut risk factors that include family history, having a first child after the age of 30, and atypical hyperplasia. It is common knowledge that early detection leads to a better outcome. This is the emphasis on preventive screening services, which is included as a basis of some of the health care reform rules and regulations.
Health care reform has emphasized preventive services because of the economic savings related to prevention, when compared to treatment. According to www.healthcare.gov, the primary web site for health care reform in the U.S., the costs for the treatment of breast cancer exceeded $6 million in 1996. They report that using preventive screening and medication would greatly reduce that number.
After all the arguing back and forth, the final official recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is that women should receive screening mammography every two years between the ages of 50 and 74. According to the USPSTF, there are really no statistically significant benefits to breast self-examinations (BSE), which is good for me to hear since I never did them anyway. Which I think is why BSE end up not being beneficial – no one did them! I only wish they had changed the recommendations a few years before I had to have my first mammogram, since it is not my favorite medical procedure. However, in case you are scared of your future mammogram, don’t be. I didn’t find it to be anywhere near as bad as everyone says. And in fact, I wrote on my calendar for the next one, “Do Not Dread”, in case I forgot it wasn’t so bad.
The health care reform laws have required health plans to cover preventive services that are recommended by the official organizations without charging a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. This means that costs will no longer keep women from getting their recommended screenings, and having breast cancer be detected as early as possible, which is the key to successful treatment. I see this as a very positive benefit to those who have a good health insurance plan, and a positive of health care reform.
So, wear your pink ribbon proudly. You look pretty in pink!
Good point. I hadn’t thohugt about it quite that way.