[AlaskaAngel]

Thanks for the post. DebL posted another in the articles forum recently that made similar points.

I also believe that in the patient's best interests, they should be told in advance what the financial cost is to those who have no insurance for such procedures, even if there are sources that can provide help, so that everyone knows right up front what those procedures can cost.

It would be interesting to know the same kind of statistics as applied to having annual breast cancer markers done instead, since there is no radiation involved, just a blood draw and analysis, which would be less expensive.

Abnormal markers don't always mean cancer, but they could be offered as an alternative by individual choice and could be followed up with a combination mammogram and ultrasound if they were abnormal. I wonder if they might actually do a better job of detection. Especially for those who are going without mammograms and ultrasounds in places where they are not covered.

A.A.