- Joined
- Feb 6, 2001
- Messages
- 12,773
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Ok, ladies, is this type of stuff happening to you? I am really beginning to wonder if the medical community has some type of racket going to generate funds.
1. Go for the annual PAP smear. For years it comes back a-ok. Hit 40, and suddenly, every year it comes back somewhere in the realm of questionable. Go for a 2nd test. Everything is fine. Breathe sigh of relief until next year.
2. Same routine is now going on with the annual mammogram. For 2 years, they have been just fine. This year, the van pulls up for the annual screening. (My school district has an agreement with the local cancer center where they bring their mobile van around to the schools for the faculty and staff). Three weeks later, you get the form letter in the mail that reads something along the lines of:
"Dear Potential Linda McCartney,
We want you to have further screening. Don't worry. 99.99999% of these occurrances are benign. Call immediately to schedule further testing.
Sincerely,
The Fear Mongers at Cancer Central"
So, now you get to lose sleep until the 2nd round of tests.
I suppose I am the original skeptic. I am pretty wary of doctors. My father used to bring himself in for every test imaginable on the face of the earth, and what good did it do him? He still died of leukemia that was never properly diagnosed until it was too late. The man took so much medication that when we flushed it all down the toilet the day he died, the toilet didn't stop smiling for a week.
Sorry to be ranting, but what are your thoughts on the usefulness of all this medical testing?
1. Go for the annual PAP smear. For years it comes back a-ok. Hit 40, and suddenly, every year it comes back somewhere in the realm of questionable. Go for a 2nd test. Everything is fine. Breathe sigh of relief until next year.
2. Same routine is now going on with the annual mammogram. For 2 years, they have been just fine. This year, the van pulls up for the annual screening. (My school district has an agreement with the local cancer center where they bring their mobile van around to the schools for the faculty and staff). Three weeks later, you get the form letter in the mail that reads something along the lines of:
"Dear Potential Linda McCartney,
We want you to have further screening. Don't worry. 99.99999% of these occurrances are benign. Call immediately to schedule further testing.
Sincerely,
The Fear Mongers at Cancer Central"
So, now you get to lose sleep until the 2nd round of tests.
I suppose I am the original skeptic. I am pretty wary of doctors. My father used to bring himself in for every test imaginable on the face of the earth, and what good did it do him? He still died of leukemia that was never properly diagnosed until it was too late. The man took so much medication that when we flushed it all down the toilet the day he died, the toilet didn't stop smiling for a week.
Sorry to be ranting, but what are your thoughts on the usefulness of all this medical testing?