Recent recommendations for breast cancer care are out of touch with today’s high medical standards for breast cancer care.
The sponsored panel which recently recommended screenings starting at age 50 and that women not do self exams, is not considered mainstream medicine and not advocated by those involved in oncologic care of the breast: note that the panel did not have a single oncologist.
This recent opinion bucks the trend of over 50 years of breast cancer care and service, calling it “anxiety overscreening" and "overdiagnosis.” In the opinion of many including the American Cancer Society and physicians involved in cancer care of the breast such as myself, there is the greatest value for women patients who had the benefit of early breast cancer detection and care.
As a representative of the American Cancer Society, I strongly maintain that baseline screening with mammograms begins at age 40, and continue to recommend yearly mammograms after that as well as monthly self breast exams.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Taxing Middle Class Women Is Unfair
Congress is proposing a five percent tax on cosmetic medical procedures.
A cosmetic tax would have its greatest impact on middle class women, who choose cosmetic surgery for a variety of lifestyle reasons. A tax on elective medical procedures presents a number of problems, including:
• Discriminates against women. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), 91% of all cosmetic procedures are requested by women. No woman should be penalized for this choice.
• Taxes Middle-Class. Cosmetic surgery is no longer an exclusive luxury for the wealthy. 86 percent of cosmetic surgery patients are working women. ASPS found that 71% of plastic surgeries were for individuals making less than $60,000 a year. Elective surgery taxes are not “luxury” taxes affecting a privileged few.
• Makes physicians tax collectors. Physicians would become tax collectors; the proposed tax holds physicians liable offices to collect cosmetic taxes.
• Violates Patient Privacy. The IRS could conduct audits of medical practices to determine whether procedures were elective and/or cosmetic, giving the IRS access to patient medical records and photographs.
• Compromises Patient Safety. Since the tax would be levied on procedures performed “by a licensed medical professional,” women may be tempted to choose elective cosmetic and medical procedures from non-medical personnel at salons, spas and other non-medical locations, which carry inherent safety risks.
The line between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery is not always clear. A cosmetic tax would leave the decision in the hands of tax auditors rather than medical professionals and their patients.
A cosmetic tax would have its greatest impact on middle class women, who choose cosmetic surgery for a variety of lifestyle reasons. A tax on elective medical procedures presents a number of problems, including:
• Discriminates against women. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), 91% of all cosmetic procedures are requested by women. No woman should be penalized for this choice.
• Taxes Middle-Class. Cosmetic surgery is no longer an exclusive luxury for the wealthy. 86 percent of cosmetic surgery patients are working women. ASPS found that 71% of plastic surgeries were for individuals making less than $60,000 a year. Elective surgery taxes are not “luxury” taxes affecting a privileged few.
• Makes physicians tax collectors. Physicians would become tax collectors; the proposed tax holds physicians liable offices to collect cosmetic taxes.
• Violates Patient Privacy. The IRS could conduct audits of medical practices to determine whether procedures were elective and/or cosmetic, giving the IRS access to patient medical records and photographs.
• Compromises Patient Safety. Since the tax would be levied on procedures performed “by a licensed medical professional,” women may be tempted to choose elective cosmetic and medical procedures from non-medical personnel at salons, spas and other non-medical locations, which carry inherent safety risks.
The line between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery is not always clear. A cosmetic tax would leave the decision in the hands of tax auditors rather than medical professionals and their patients.
Brighten Up – It’s Almost 2010!
Brighten your eyes and skin quickly in time for that special New Years Party!
You can bring in the new decade looking younger and more refreshed in just an hour.
Start with Botox at $9.95 a unit. While you’re having BOTOX done why not complete the look with an Eyebrow Makeover? Danielle, our Aesthetician, will make over your brows to give your eyes an added lift. A full shaping starts at $20.00 & up.
If you need to fill some wrinkles, we also have a Restylane special: for a limited time just $400.00 a tube.
And, you can brighten up your skin with a holiday Photofacial with our IPL laser. It takes only 15 minutes. Special holiday price is $200.00 (reg. $300.00).
As you add another year to the calendar, you can look brighter and younger in no time at all. Call to make an appointment at 732-683-1033.
Here's wishing all a Happy and Healthy New Year! See you soon.
You can bring in the new decade looking younger and more refreshed in just an hour.
Start with Botox at $9.95 a unit. While you’re having BOTOX done why not complete the look with an Eyebrow Makeover? Danielle, our Aesthetician, will make over your brows to give your eyes an added lift. A full shaping starts at $20.00 & up.
If you need to fill some wrinkles, we also have a Restylane special: for a limited time just $400.00 a tube.
And, you can brighten up your skin with a holiday Photofacial with our IPL laser. It takes only 15 minutes. Special holiday price is $200.00 (reg. $300.00).
As you add another year to the calendar, you can look brighter and younger in no time at all. Call to make an appointment at 732-683-1033.
Here's wishing all a Happy and Healthy New Year! See you soon.
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