[Carolyns]

Hi Jackie,

The challenge with these types of recommendations is that young women's doctors will read these guidelines and follow them... hide behind them for cover if things go wrong. I was put off of a mamo for over a year due to an OB/GYN who said that I was too young for a mammo according to the "guidelines". Well what young woman doesn't want to hear that she does not need a mammogram (myself included). Anyway a year later when I changed doctors and got a mammogram it was found that I did in fact have breast cancer that had spread to the nodes.

Later I found that he was writing in my file that I had an obsessive fear of breast disease. It seemed that he thought that doing self breast exams and feeling a lump made me obsessive.

Thanks, Carolyn