Health Category

Mammogram debate hits Midland

BY MARY FINN

Earlier this week, a federal panel suggested women wait until age 50 to start getting mammograms.

As CMU Public Radio's Mary Finn reports, the recommendation created a strong reaction from the medical community and patients alike...

The new recommendation is causing a lot of confusion among the medical community.

At MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland, officials are working with radiologists and physicians to evaluate the new guidelines.

Carole Calvert- Baxter is the director of MidMichigan's women's health program.

She says they are still trying to understand the proposals....

"We recommend however that women work with their physicians on an individualized plan that's based on their individual medical history and risk factors to determine the frequency and the type of screenings they should receive."

For years, the standing recommendation has been for women to get mammograms annually, beginning at age 40.

November is lung cancer awareness month

BY MARY FINN

November is National Lung Cancer Awareness month. 

State health officials say despite the bad economy, many people are still smoking. And too many are developing lung cancer.

Health officials are using this month to help smokers quit.

CMU Public Radio's Mary Finn has more.

Just 20 minutes after you quit smoking, your heart rate and blood pressure will begin to drop. This is just one among many statistics the MDCH has posted to raise awareness about lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in Michigan, killing nearly 6,000 people this year.

The main cause of lung cancer is smoking.
 
James McCurtis is with the MDCH.

"What we want to do is help making those numbers go down and with hopefully smoke free legislation that will work".

McCurtis said Michigan ranks 19th in the nation when it comes to lung cancer deaths.




   
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