What is the most hotly contested health issue of 1997?
It's being debated on talk shows, reported in the news and fought over
in congress...
You got it! The issue of mammograms for women between the ages of 40
and 50.
Regular screening for the number two killer of women in this age group,
breast cancer, is proven to save lives. The key is early detection.
So what's the fuss?
According to the National Cancer Institute and the nations health
insurers--the issue is; do the benefits outweigh the risks? Current
x-ray mammograms, approximately 25 million procedures annually, are
indicators of, but inconclusive as to the detection of, breast cancer.
When a suspicious mass is detected, and millions are annually, the
patient is then referred to another radiologist for an ultra sound
examination. If, after this second examination, the mass is still
deemed suspicious, the patient is then further referred and subjected
to a tissue biopsy. There are approximately one million biopsies
performed each year for this purpose. From these biopsies, it is
estimated that between 175 and 200 thousand new cases of breast cancer
will be detected. And those 175 - 200 thousand women whom represent
our wives, sisters, mothers and daughters will stand a far greater
chance of survival or prolonged life with early detection. But there
are enormous costs and emotional trauma involved in filtering out all
the millions of potential candidates to find the real cancer victims.
So the real issue is not that we should have to sacrifice our early
detection efforts in the name of cost savings and reduced stress--but
that we should find a more accurate screening method. And that method
does exist!
MRI, a relativly new technology which stands for Magnetic Resonance
Imaging, is by far the best soft tissue imaging technology available!
It has been called the most significant new imaging tool since the
discovery of x-ray. Images offer a clarity of text book quality and
are safely generated through the manipulation of magnetic fields as
opposed to x-ray radiation. The promise of MRI technology as it
relates to mammography includes the following:
-- It provides vastly superior images of soft breast tissues and in
particular dense breast tissues normally associated with younger
women.
-- Masses are viewed with a clairity that allows a much greater
determination as to the nature of the mass or tumor in comparison
to an x-ray mammogram.
-- MRI has been called invaluable in the case of screening breasts
augmented with implants.
-- MRI holds the promise of eliminating millions of unnecessary ultra
sound procedures annually.
-- MRI will likely eliminate hundreds of thousands of unnecessary
breast biopsies annually.
-- MRI may save hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars
annually in unnecessary procedures.
-- MRI will spare millions of women, their families and friends the
emotional trauma of clarifying cancer screening results.
-- MRI is a safe procedure that does not expose patients to radiation.
-- MRI does not require the discomfort of breast compression which is
necessary in x-ray mammography.
This technology already exists. And one forward thinking corporate
duo stands to benefit--right now--like no other company! The companies
are Advanced NMR Systems ( ANMR ) and its subsidiary Advanced Mammography
Systems ( MAMO ). These are development stage companies which focused
on these specific set of issues in 1992 and received the world's first
and only FDA approval for a dedicated MRI breast mammography system in
February of 1996.
When national interests discover the existance and importance of these
companies and their techhnologies, there will be a chain reaction that
completely revalues these companies. ANMR is incredibly undervalued
and can still be purchased for less than one dollar! MAMO is selling
for less than 3 bucks. Look at the facts, consider the issues and see
if you don't agree. This may be one of those rare opportunities that
come few times in ones life...
Comments???
Regards,
Warren |
