This is not a post about business which is unusual for me.  It’s a post with a more personal perspective.  A government appointed panel, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, released a breast cancer report this week stating it was not necessary for women to get mammograms till they are 50 years old and that self or annual doctor breast exams were not effective in screening for breast cancer.  This has stirred up a wealth of controversy once again about mammograms and how women should care for their breasts.

CNN recently interviewed Dr. Daniel Kopans who is considered a world expert in mammogram screening.  Every point this panel presented Dr. Kopans was able to easily counter with facts.  The bottom line is:  over recent years, due to making women more aware of how to take care of their breasts in order to prevent or lessen the severity of breast cancer, detection has improved and survival rates have increased.  Dr. Kopans went on to say that most breast cancer detected with mammograms and annual or self exams are with women that do not have a history of or genetic tendency to breast cancer.  Thus debunking the panel findings.

Everyone can find facts to support their cause today.  I encourage you to fully check this information out for yourself.  Then decide what is best for you and your family.  But strongly consider insisting that your mother, wife, daughters, sisters and any other woman you care about continue to get yearly check ups.  It could save their lives because the facts do support regular check ups. Perhaps you even know of someone with a personal story of how annual exams assisted with maintaining their good health.

The mammogram protocols have been debated and raised questions in prior years with various studies and medically oriented groups.  But is also a bigger question here:  is the mammogram issue just a preview of what is to come if the health care bills before Congress are passed?  No one really knows for sure.  Only time will tell.  The politicians keep saying there won’t be government rationing of health care.  But this could be an excellent example of what Americans may face in the future.  Do you really want someone in the government who may not be fully qualified to determine your medical care or that of someone you care about?  How much do you want the government involved in your health care decisions?  These judgments about your health could mean delayed care which can translate into life or death circumstance.

Just as with your business you need to be proactive and always looking out for the well-being of your company, the same is especially true with your personal health.  Always get all the facts, then make your decision.