topic Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX in Wellness

Katie Couric: Cancer DX

granddi — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 13:58:44 GMT

Katie Couric, Age 65, has announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer. This was discovered during routine mamogram.

And we are being told after 65 forget about mamograms and pap tests. Health care is being rationed.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

Suzeecat — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 14:03:03 GMT

I'm 67 and my dr just gave me a script for my annual mammogram. I've never had an issue, but my dr has never indicated that it's OK to skip due to my age. I always thought that chances of getting all types of cancer increase with age, no?

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

DrakesMomma — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 14:06:03 GMT

Current recommendations from Cancer dot org

Women ages 40 to 44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms (x-rays of the breast) if they wish to do so.
Women age 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
Women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every 2 years, or can continue yearly screening.
Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

brandiwine — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 14:13:53 GMT

She was diagnosed over a year ago. She has already been thru treatment. She has a huge family history of many types of cancer and has always kept us with exams. She caught this early and is doing well. Another reminder to all of us for early detection.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

sann — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 15:00:58 GMT

Have never been told that because of my age a mammogram wasn't necessary .....

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

PINKdogWOOD — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 15:26:27 GMT

@sann I have been told this however about pap tests.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

novamc1 — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 15:38:56 GMT

Her sister, Emily Couric, died of pancreatic cancer in 2001.

I think it was during her term as a Virginia State Senator that she was instrumental in making Virginia the first state to require insurers to cover colon cancer screening.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

qvcaddition — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 16:06:22 GMT

I still get mammos, but had to fight for it. In my early 80's they didn't want to give me one, but Dr. found a lump and Mammo showed nothing, so they did ultrasound and nothing.

I still insist on them everyyear, but have to fight for it.

Explaination was, when you are old, if you have cancer started, before it gets aggessive, you will proberly be gone.

My dad died from cancer at 82, but he was being treated because my sister argued about his care.

I had to insist on my b12 shots and what a difference they make. Vitamens didn't help, not even AL vits. on the b12. His other vits are working for me.

I was born and raised in america and have to fight for stuff when I'm old.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

qvcaddition — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 16:10:10 GMT

When my friend was 85, I told her to get a mammo because she had a scare a few years back. She said Dr. said every two years. She is the type of women that never insisted on anything and because her doc has a medical degree and I don't, she didn't listen to me and waited.

The next year she got her mammo and they discovered breast cancer. Fortunetly they caught it in time and today she is 96.

You should listen to Dr., but also be your own advocate and listen to your body or your feelings.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

mac116 — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 16:25:39 GMT

My sister was just telling me that 2 women in her group of friends (all over 80), were just diagnosed with breast cancer.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

embgm — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:00:18 GMT

@DrakesMomma wrote:
Current recommendations from Cancer dot org
Women ages 40 to 44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms (x-rays of the breast) if they wish to do so.
Women age 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
Women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every 2 years, or can continue yearly screening.
Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 58 years old. A two year span between mammograms could have produced a much worse outcome! Em

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

Tissyanne — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:07:34 GMT

@brandiwine wrote:
She was diagnosed over a year ago. She has already been thru treatment. She has a huge family history of many types of cancer and has always kept us with exams. She caught this early and is doing well. Another reminder to all of us for early detection.

@brandiwine

Katie found out she had breast cancerJuly 21, 2022. She was six months late getting her mammogram, according to her statement. She said she would have missed, it completely, if her gynecologist hadn't reminded her.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

SandGirl — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:07:39 GMT

You just wonder what would have happened if it was never found, would have it grew and ended up causing issues or maybe live out life and pass of something totally diff.

My husbands grandmother (YEARSSSS ago) was dignosed at 82, she never had anything done, didn't even have it removed, just went about life. She lived to be 99 and never died from the breast cancer.

NOT TO DISCOUNT IT, just makes me think... I guess it would determine which stage it was at, he does not recall what stage her's was out.

As long as our Dr's recommend it, we will always continue screening, better to know than to not know for sure!!

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

Kachina624 — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:28:47 GMT

@granddi I haven't been told to forget about an annual mammogram. My doctor reminds me every year and I trudge down to get one. I'm well over 65.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

sann — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:32:25 GMT

@PINKdogWOOD wrote:
@sann I have been told this however about pap tests.

So have I...

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

chickenbutt — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:00:08 GMT

@SandGirl wrote:
You just wonder what would have happened if it was never found, would have it grew and ended up causing issues or maybe live out life and pass of something totally diff.

My husbands grandmother (YEARSSSS ago) was dignosed at 82, she never had anything done, didn't even have it removed, just went about life. She lived to be 99 and never died from the breast cancer.

NOT TO DISCOUNT IT, just makes me think... I guess it would determine which stage it was at, he does not recall what stage her's was out.

As long as our Dr's recommend it, we will always continue screening, better to know than to not know for sure!!

That was an interesting story and rather encouraging for people like me who cannot afford medical care. I've never had a mammo, or any of that, and while I do pay attention to what's going on inside my body (since I'm my own doctor), I feel like I would know if that is happening and it's good to know that one might have more time left than they expected, since it will be left to run its course.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

granddi — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:33:14 GMT

My neighbor was 80 ish and had significant cataracts. The ophthalmologist told the family he hated to put him through surgery "at his age" The man lived to his mid 90's.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

Shelbelle — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:47:33 GMT

My MIL was diagnosed with BC at 87.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

chrystaltree — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 20:29:41 GMT

No one said mammograms aren't necessary after 65, I don't know where you think you heard that. The American Cancer society advises yearly until age 54, every other year at 55 plus. Insurers still allow yearly screening mammograms every year. Pap smears after 65 aren't considered necessary if a woman has had 3 consecutive negative pap smears or a hysterectomy for a non cancerous condition.

Re: Katie Couric: Cancer DX

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 20:34:08 GMT

@granddi I have never been told no mammograms after 65.

You don't need a pap test if you never had a 'bad' pap in the past few years.

I am 67 have not had a pap test in probably 5-6 years.

Mammmograms every year, I don't care what the guidelines are.