So she set out to interview more than 100 physicians, including her own, researchers, economists, advocates, and fellow patients. What she learned is that many of our deeply engrained notions about breast cancer diagnosis, research, and treatment are outdated or just plain wrong, and the resulting book,serves as a much-needed update on the state of breast cancer today.
A lot of doctors that prescribe annual mammograms don’t discuss the pros and cons and effectiveness of mammography with their patients. It’s fine to get mammograms, but most breast cancers are discovered through touch. So it is really important to pay attention to your breast health and to see a doctor if you notice anything different about your breasts. And just feel yourself up!”“I have no idea why I got breast cancer.
The second reason there’s a lot more surgery than we might medically need is that insurance will cover it. We have a law in this country that requires insurance to cover pretty much any surgery that a breast cancer patient gets, including reconstruction. So, if it’s covered, a lot of women will go for it. And the third reason I think we have a lot of surgery is that the plastic surgery piece of the equation has gotten a lot better over the years.