Before You Donate
Think very seriously before donating to any breastcancer organization, or fundraising program until you read their Annual Report to see who their top contributors are, and if they have a product that appears frequently in the message the organization sends to the public. That would be unethical and its illegal. The same applies to a request that the public buys products, but does not receive a "donor receipt" for tax-deductible purpose. Read any and all food labels that breastcancer "non-profits" are promoting to raise money. Some organizations tell the public to help them raise money by asking you to visit their websites, but that only gives them "hits" to increase their sponsors.
Another tip, "signing" an online Petition is not acceptable, so don't fall for such antics. An ethical non-profit, or professional will not request your visit to their website, nor use "cookies" placed on your computer when you visit their site.
Purchase the Breastcancer Postage Stamp, the Post Office will always give you your charitable deduction receipt. Its a valid form of fund raising.
Always Refresh/Reload. Information frequently updated (see bottom of document for date)BEFORE A MAMMOGRAM
What I now hope my daughters and friends will do before their next mammogram
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmqsa/search.cfm
BEFORE you have your next mammogram, and be sure the facility is FDA approved!
AND, that this site has valuable information for you. For example,
in Texas a surgeon may not perform a stereotactic biopsy without certification,
and a radiologist has to be present! In California it is the same.
These states and Arkansas generally set the standards. We are researching
the states at this time through FDA.
Always be certain that the facility you are using (even mobile units, which is not the best idea) are accredited by the FDA, and your state's Radiation Control, in your State Department of Health. Why? Because you want the best images possible, with the least amount of radiation.
Even if any x-ray EXPOSURE you have seems to take a long time, contact your State Radiation Control to check on the facility. Have the location of the facility and the date of your experience available at the time you call.
Always carry 3 x 5 index cards with you and jot information for each individual you speak to and appointments or inquiries on each one (only one per card). You can file them later under the doctor's name, or hospital, or lab, etc. Date each card at the top and keep an elastic band around them until you file them in a box OR, begin a health notebook. Just one spiral will do. Date each page, and have some sections to mark off with a tape square or some type of "tab." Under History you can add the following information right away.
Check into your family history for any one who has or had ovarian, or breast cancer, especially, but others too. Also, know the grade you were in when you began menstruation, or age, and had your first pregnancy, and know exactly what if any drugs you are taking. Remember that 70% of us had none of the risk factors and a lot of people do not know their family history, much less who their relatives were, or are.
Closely related relatives who died before your recent memory and no one knows the cause, the state they lived and died in will have their death certificates. Write the department of births and deaths records and request a copy of the death certificate or if you telephone, sometimes they will tell you the cause of death, and you don't need to have the certificate.
Obtain your last two to three original mammograms (not copies), so you may take these with you to meet with the radiologist for your next mammogram. It is FDA law that these belong to you (originals). If the facilities give you any resistance, ask you why, or what you are going to do with them, go to the Table of Contents here and click on the FDA Mammography Matters, or any of their sites. Contact them, your State Department of Health, your legislators, and state medical society all in one letter with copies noted. As a famous physician said it will either put them out of business, or they'll straighten up and comply. I agree!
Then, obtain the names of facilities (hospitals, radiology centers, places you are referred to) you may select. Your insurance company will help you with this, too. If the person you get isn't helpful, call back and ask to speak to whomever is head of Case Management.
Please, please do not rely on the mobile mammogram units. There are too many variables for you to check out ahead of time. IF you do, demand the same quality from them, in writing, that you would a hospital, or radiology facility.
Using the list (see link below) call the facilities and ask those questions. Begin this about two months before your next mammogram is due, if possible. If you keep getting "No," answers to your questions about an immediate reading, telephone a nearby hospital, and talk directly to the breast radiologist, in the radiology department. E-Mail me if you are having a struggle! It's worth our time.
Are you concerned about your last mammogram, or a breast problem that you feel is being ignored?
WHAT YOU MAY DO
Or, telephone the facility that did the mammogram, and ask to speak to the chief radiologist, and write her/his name down in your "health notebook (to check out with the American Board of Medical Specialties, and your state board of medical examiners, later). Ask that person to review your film and show it to you - meet this person (you'll instantly memorize your film if they point out a suspicious area to you!).
If you're still
concerned, E-Mail us! Don't give up. You know your body!
Some things to think about:
Your referring physician will (or should) have a great deal of confidence in the physician they refer you TO, because the referring physician is responsible for that referral. DO NOT accept a referral based on "family friends," of that physician, etc. Their referral must be based on experience and objective findings. It is always better to have two opinions rather than one, also. Or, instead of merely a telephone opinion, your doctor may advise that you actually see the physician s/he is referring you to. That is a wise decision, and really, better for the both of you.
With all the corporate physician groups 'popping' up, it's no wonder that good, caring doctors may, at time, be at a loss as to how to function - indeed obtain the best care for their patients. They are dealing with a "business management" entity, not directly with physicians who set their own standards. Hence, medical care in the U.S. is fragmented, at best, and until the AMA decides that "do no harm" is not a priority amongst them, this will continue. Therefore, the patient must do as much as possible to be proactive, and/or find an advocate who can do the demanding, second checks, and tracking of your care for you! Always take someone with you to a doctor, until you are highly confident that this physician is going to be on your Team!
To repeat: YOU have to be closely involved with your doctor (primary or oncologist) to voice your opinion, too, and the two of you decide together. If you cannot be decisive in these matters, select someone in your family, or a friend, to act as your advocate, and legally give that permission to your advocate, so your doctors may speak to them, with or without you present.
The goal is to always be able to identify the most thorough care for you, the *patient/consumer.
Here I must say something about the pubic patient, Medicare, or as some call it 'charity cases.' In the U.S. the patient who is cared for in a clinic has been branded a public burden, and that is a horrible error. Every hospital, clinic, physician who cares for someone on federal aid knows that their bill will be paid by the U.S. government, US, you and I, thank God for this opportunity! It is NOT a burden on the medical care system! Don't let anyone fool you.
You and I, who have an income or money to pay for medical care are not a guarantee of payment for hospitals, physicians, clinics!
Hospitals should roll out the red carpet for the patient on public assistance! They will be the paying client; there is some guarantee of payment. The most that can be anticipated from a patient with insurance is overall, generally, 80% of the bill, including the offset after deductibles are met! So, clinic care is great care, and if you have to go to "a clinic" you deserve respect, regardless of your income, or status, just as anyone else should.
If you are a community volunteer, please put a few hours in at your
county hospitals, or clinics, and make certain that the patients are treated
in a respectable manner! We're dealing with cultural differences
all the time, and that fogs our minds, but remember, clinic care should
not be sitting in hard chairs in rows for hours, or exposing small children
to severe trauma cases coming in, or expectant mothers waiting for hours
to be seen! That is wrong, and the public must report such instances
to the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation, copy the hospital's
Board of Trustees, and the FDA's home page will direct you to the right
place to be heard: http://www.fda.gov/
OBTAIN
YOUR ORIGINAL MAMMOGRAMS
NOT
COPIES!
YOUR
OWN, ORIGINAL ONES.
HOW?
"The FDA is the accrediting body now...they can employ the state or the American College of Radiologists (ACR) to do the accreditations. FDA/ACR does a film review every three years and an annual inspection of the facility each year. Mammography is the most highly regulated modality! FDA requires that a radiologist who reads mammograms must read 240 every six months or they are not qualified to READ!!!!"
BUT, you have a right to ask where and when they accomplished this number (240). Was it in a weekend workshop? Not sufficient! However, if they are reading them in their practice and have another radiologist reading them a 2nd time, or over their shoulder, ah now that is what you are looking for, and that is what your insurance companies want to pay for, and that is and should be the ONLY way they become accredited! ASK if they are accredited to perform and interpret mammograms and exactly how they became accredited.
"NEVER accept copies of mammograms. Copy film is acceptable for regular x-rays, but not of high enough quality to do mammograms.
Always have your doctors compare the originals. It is now written into the FDA rules of April 28, 1999, that originals have to be released at patients request, either to the patient or place of her choice, for only the cost of postage! You do not have to accept hidden charges and should expect your films to be sent immediately by Fed Ex or pick them up (so there is a tracking number if mailed).
To be honest, films older than 10 years are not worth anything, our technique has changed so much. That is also another reason to get your mammogram done yearly. It is also best, whenever possible to have it done at the same place. But in this world, we move around so much (quote from a radiology technologist)."
And, therefore, I would personally take possession at the time of each mammogram, and keep them yourself.
Next: List Of Questions to Print Out Before You Make Your Next Mammo Appointment