Think Pinker

It has begun. California yesterday decided to freeze a program that gives free beast cancer screenings to women who can’t otherwise afford to have it done. In essence the program is closed.

The center that gives the free screenings did say that it would continue to treat those that are already patients there, but only if they are 50 years old or more. This is right in line with the new guidelines that were just recently passed.

State Officials cite a low budget as the reason for the cut backs but it seems that this move could be just the first opening of Pandora’s Box. It is amazing how quickly a closure such as this has come so soon after new guidelines are set.

ThinkPinker.com reminds everyone that most doctors are sticking to the ‘old’ guidelines and do not recommend waiting until the age of 50 to get screenings done. Unfortunately, for many of the women in California who could have been helped by this program, they will now have to go without and simply hope for the best.

Again, I will stay on top of this story for everyone as it is the biggest thing to happen in the world of breast cancer in quite some time. Whether or not it will be a good or bad thing remains to be seen but turning people away certainly doesn’t seem like a good start.

Read more on this story here.