Elizabeth Edwards Urges Women Not to Neglect Mammograms As She Did

[Omaha Steve]

http://omaha.cox.net/cci/newsnational/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D8OC44980&_action=validatearticle

Elizabeth Edwards Urges Women Not to Neglect Mammograms As She Did

04-07-2007 8:14 PM
By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

DAVENPORT, Iowa (Associated Press) -- Elizabeth Edwards said Wednesday she feels she let down her family and the country by neglecting to get mammograms that could have caught her cancer earlier. Mrs. Edwards _ appearing with her husband, Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, in their first trip to Iowa since announcing her cancer had returned _ admonished women to get their mammograms.

She said she didn't, and by the time she felt a lump in her breast in 2004 and was able to get it removed, it had grown to nine centimeters and the cancer had spread elsewhere.

"I do not have to be in this situation," Mrs. Edwards told about 500 people at a banquet hall. "I am responsible for putting myself, this man, my family and, frankly, putting you all at risk, too, because I think you deserve the chance to vote for this man."


Elizabeth Edwards introduces her husband Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards at a campaign town hall meeting in Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday, April 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)


Later, John Edwards said he knows his wife didn't get mammograms because she isn't in the habit of putting herself first.

"It's not surprising to me that she would say that, but I think she's being too hard on herself," Edwards told The Associated Press.

Mrs. Edwards' comments came in response to an audience member who asked her to spread the word about the importance of mammograms.

FULL story at link.

[Imalittleteapot]

1. I also neglected to get a mammogram for 3 years.

I did self-exams and never felt a thing. Even after cancer was diagnosed, not one doctor could feel a lump or mass, but they could see it in the film.

Please DU women, follow Elizabeth Edward's advise and get regular mammograms.

[qanda]

5. I hope you're doing okay now

Take care of yourself.

[Ino]

2. ...as long as you have insurance to cover treatments, right?

otherwise, what's the point?

[qanda]

4. I know what you're saying

I'm still paying for my biopsy from last year. Thankfully there's a program in my county that allows me to have free mammograms, but I always fear what will happen if it comes back malignant-- I'll be left high and dry with no insurance.

[sarge43]

13. Thank you, Ino.

So, you get a mammogram and it comes back "ooops", now what? Without supplemental insurance, even with Medicare or Tricare, you'll be down to no breast or anything else.

I wonder if Mr and Mrs Edwards are aware that the funding for both Medicare and Tricare has been cut yet again.

[qanda]

3. I'm due to get my next mammogram soon

I had a lump removed last year about this time and thankfully it was benign, but better safe than sorry. Many women do put other things ahead of themselves and in the end it shortens their time on Earth. This is a lesson to me to start taking better care of myself.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. K&R

[Pathwalker]

7. My doctor refuses to give me a prescription for one.

SHE doesn't think they help, says I don't need one, even though I haven't had one in four years, despite already having had a lump(benign) removed. Plus, all my maternal aunts had breast cancer, as did my maternal Grandmother. (Mother died young)
What are my options?

[GCP]

8. Why would you need a prescription for one?

I've been having mammograms for the past 20 years and have never needed a prescription.

[MountainLaurel]

9. She might mean a referral

From a GP. I would guess that some insurance plans require that before you can get a mammogram.

[WinkyDink]

14. My local hospitals need Dr's prescriptions. I found out by trying a "walk-in". Nope.

[Pathwalker]

15. You can't get one here without a prescription either.

My insurance co. won't cover it, either, so I have to pay for it. I'm willing to do so, but my doctor won't give me a prescription, so even though I am high risk - I can't get one. Catch 22.

[Sadie4629]

16. Get another doctor--

--TOMORROW!!! This is too important an issue to ignore.

[CTyankee]

17. Please find another doctor! This one sounds off the wall.

Given your history and that of your family members it is obvious you need to be screened both with mammograms and clinical breast exams. I have NO such history and I have a mammogram done once a year and cbc's done twice a year (once by my gyn and also at my regular yearly physical).

[Contrary1]

18. "SHE"???

Goof grief, find yourself another doctor.

My daughter was told by her doctor (also a female), that she need not worry about
getting a mammogram until she was in her mid 40's. I was 45 when my breast cancer
was diagnosed. The surgeon told me it had been there about 8 years.

Anyway, she did change doctors. And this one had a brain. Because my daughter's
breast tissue is extremely dense, she ordered a baseline mammogram be done.

[live love laugh]

10. My mother found early stage cancer through annual mammograms

seven years ago. She is fine. This is what Edwards is talking about.

[vireo]

11. See Health Forum thread for another view on this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x18682

[Truthiness Inspector]

12. A very good reminder

and I'm sure Mrs. Edwards will indeed inspire many women to have mammograms they otherwise might have blown off.