Jill Davis, Editor in Chief, Halton Division

The words written in this space are reserved for the voice of the newspaper. Hence you never read the author’s name. Editorials are simply opinions meant to provoke discussion (visit www.insidehalton.com, Letters to the Editor), enlighten, challenge, and sometimes celebrate something or someone special in this great city of ours.

Today’s editorial is a personal one and will be signed. This issue is far too important to let slip by without commenting.

On Monday, a task force of researchers recommended women get fewer mammograms in their lifetimes. The guidelines – the first update in 10 years – recommend most women avoid routine mammography until age 50, after which they should have the X-ray every two to three years instead of every year or every two years.

The reasoning – if you can call it that – is that women who face routine mammograms earlier than age 50 run the risk of drawing false positive results and will subsequently be subjected to needless tests and anxiety.

We politely argue that a woman would rather deal with a false positive than learn that the breast cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. We politely suggest that catching cancer in its early stages gives a person a reasonable fighting chance against this insidious disease.

The task force made it clear, though, that the recommendations do not apply to the small percentage of women at high risk for breast cancer.

However, the report, published by the Canadian Medical Association, is a disservice to women and only adds to the confusion about preventive medicine.

A woman, perhaps frightened about having a mammogram, will look at this report and will somehow have a false sense of security believing this type of breast screening is not as important as once touted.

We sincerely hope that women  – before the age of 50 – continue to monitor their health and advocate for mammograms. They should speak to their family physician and push for that routine X-ray.

It could save their life and no stat in any report will change that.
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In April 2010 a routine mammogram revealed I had several tumours in my left breast. The cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. Every day, I thank my family physician Dr. Anoop Nayar for ensuring that I had a mammogram last year. I was not yet 50.

I wonder how many women out there need a mammogram, but thanks to this latest report will decide to forgo it.

I hope this editorial reaches some of you today. If it saves one life it is worth it – trust me.