Persuasive Essay On Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a dangerous condition and takes the lives of people annually, but knowing such information can lead to problems for many people. The main issue as of late is whether or not mandated testing by insurance companies should be allowed. If it is allowed, genetic testing will be performed forcefully, even if someone doesn’t want to know their chances of getting breast cancer. If not, then nothing happens, besides some people may not be able to protect themselves. Some causes of this disease are: simple genetics, mutations in the BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 genes, and other known cancer accelerants such as smoking or drinking, but primarily progressing age and family history (BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing.). To simplify breast cancer, breast cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the breast (Breast Cancer Facts :: The National Breast Cancer Foundation). Then those damaged cells can invade surrounding tissue.
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But more into genetic testing, genetic testing works through blood samples and machines that look for abnormalities in someone’s genes (Genetic Testing).
Which then can tell someone after a few weeks if they have inherited faulty genes (Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer: How Accurate Are the Results?). Mandated testing is a scam. It is trying to use an individual’s genetic information for the benefit of those who impose the tests, without regard to what it may do to others. Therefore, it should be stopped. As far as what we know about the tests, they are not certain, they are likely to be abused by insurance companies and businesses, and it will likely cause unnecessary psychological damage to the people forced to take such
tests.
Let’s start off with the accuracy of the tests. While it is true that the tests will tell if he or she has the faulty genes that are linked to breast cancer, even then, these tests do not actually tell them of their chances of getting breast cancer (Breast Cancer Facts :: The National Breast Cancer Foundation.). Instead, the doctors involved evaluate the test alongside different subjects. Once someone has sought out consultation, the tests are evaluated alongside family histories, current lifestyle, and personal history to determine the chances of that person getting breast cancer (BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing). However, these evaluations are not entirely accurate, nor do they tell people how serious their cancer may be if they do get it (Breast Cancer Facts :: The National Breast Cancer Foundation). This is stated by expert Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder of Breast Cancer.org, "Simply having a proven gene abnormality does not necessarily mean that a woman will develop breast cancer, or that her cancer will be any worse than cancer that does not stem from an inherited genetic flaw" (Breast Cancer Facts :: The National Breast Cancer Foundation). And finally, even if someone does perform the tests, not only are the tests not certain, but around 1/10 of the people who take the test end up with an “ambiguous, or uncertain result” (BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing). Which in short means that the tests can not completely ascertain whether or not someone’s genes will cause them to be at a higher risk of breast cancer, because the genes they discovered or tested for came out inconclusive.
Now, let’s think about why insurance companies would want mandated testing to occur. While it is true that genetic discrimination is made illegal by the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)” (Genetic Information Discrimination). This would not stop insurance companies from trying to reason out higher insurance rates with a higher risk of using insurance, as it is logical to think that way. Regardless, insurance companies are known for their scams and manipulation of information for money. For example, insurance companies since the Affordable Healthcare Act have been charging smokers around 50% more than nonsmokers in insurance premiums (Insurance Premium Surcharges for Smokers May Jeopardize Access to Coverage). At first this seems reasonable, however there is no guarantee that smokers will have more health problems than non smokers. Instead, it is based on probabilities. Therefore, using that same logic, who’s not to say that insurance companies won’t do the same with genetic information? All it would take is one decree from congress and all the information from someone’s mandated genetic tests would be used to raise his/her rates, based on things that he/she can’t change.
Now, let’s look at the reliability, legality, and truthfulness of insurance companies. Ever since the Affordable Healthcare Act, birth control medicines, “be it pill, patch, shot, ring — are supposed to be covered by insurance companies without a co-pay or other charges” (Health Insurance Companies Are Illegally Charging for Birth Control). Regardless, insurance companies are using loopholes and almost blatantly going against the law to do the opposite. They do this by charging women through broad “categories” of birth control medicine, even though they all should be covered the Affordable Healthcare Act. These actions just go to show that insurance companies would have no quarrel with using loopholes, or just breaking the law to exploit genetic tests. In short, the insurance companies are neither truly reliable, completely legal, or even truthful about the way they operate.
Finally, the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA),” Isn’t as protective as it appears (Genetic Information Discrimination). In fact, the “TRICARE military health system, the Indian Health Service, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program”, aren’t included by this act at all (Genetic Information Discrimination). As well as, “long term care insurance, life insurance, or disability insurance”, Meaning that all of these programs, which are only health insurance programs, are technically allowed to do with genetic information as they wish. This obvious gap in the reliability of the GINA Act just proves the points previously stated, the insurance companies can and will use loopholes and technicalities in laws to their advantage. This also means that veterans, common people, Indians, people in long term care, federal employees, or the disabled, perhaps by genetic diseases, could be genetically discriminated against legally if mandated testing was allowed.
Controversely, people believe Mandated Genetic Tests should be performed because they would save lives. There are quite a few benefits to genetic testing as these opposing views may state. For example, better cancer prevention programs may arise from genetic testing, more information could be learned about cancer this way to ultimately help cancer research (Seeking Your Genetic Information: Pros and Cons). People would in general have a better chance at avoiding cancer if they knew their chances of getting cancer. Obviously, lives would be saved, and even the quality of life may be improved for some further down the line. For example, if genetic testing were performed, people would have access to information that would tell them whether or not they should prepare for breast cancer. Using that information they could fight it off before it even begins. And through the same process, scientists and doctors would have more subjects to research from. Maybe allowing them to finally figure out what causes cancer, which in turn could lead to an end to cancer all together.
The psychological issues however are extremely pertinent. The results, especially those forced upon someone, can be detrimental to their well being (BRCA Gene Test for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk). To elaborate, there are two ways to be harmed in this world. The first way is through physical means, and the second is through psychological means. For example, people who receive positive results may begin to fear their future, and become brutally stressed by the entirety of the implications that come with breast cancer. They then will likely begin to get “Feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness or depression” (BRCA Gene Test for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk). People could also begin to worry about “possible insurance discrimination”, which could only those feelings worse. Which truthfully would be a founded fear, since discrimination by insurance companies is an actual possibility, as previously explained. Now, imagine if family members discovered they inherited this gene, or had a possibility of inheriting the gene, this could cause massive strain throughout families. The worry in that families could seep out, and show itself in surprising and often brutally harsh ways. Which in turn would create even more feelings of anxiety, anger, and depression.
That isn’t even to mention the unimaginable stress one would have to go through when facing “preventive measures that have long-term consequences” (BRCA Gene Test for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk). Which now create new “feelings of "inevitability" that you'll get cancer” (BRCA Gene Test for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk). However, this information hasn’t covered the psychological influence of an “ambiguous or uncertain BRCA1 or BRCA2 test result” (BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing). In short, an ambiguous or uncertain result is when you have “a genetic variant of uncertain significance” (BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing). Therefore, feelings of uncertainty can arise with ease, as that person may never get to know if cancer is going to take his/her life. What’s worse is “Survivor's Guilt”, knowing that that person’s family has the gene for breast cancer. But even then, that they were unaffected by a gene which may have wreaked havoc upon their family in the years past.
So then, is it really worth being forced to have this information? Even if insurance companies would have access to said information? No, it is not worth it, mandated genetic tests for breast cancer should not be performed. The reasoning behind it is more or less simple. Genetic tests for breast cancer are firstly, not entirely accurate, nor do they tell a person if and when they will get breast cancer, just the possibility they have of getting breast cancer. Secondly, the primary reason insurance companies would want these tests mandated in the first place is to use the information for their benefit. Which is not a new thing, insurance companies use information like “if people smoke” to create high insurance premiums repeatedly. Most importantly, the psychological impact of this information is highly detrimental to people who feel “forced” into knowing their results. It alone causes more problems than the tests may ever fix. Therefore, this information should only be pursued upon a person’s free will and choice, and shouldn't be forced upon them. Especially not when the people forcing the information, the insurance companies, would likely abuse that information for their own personal gain.
But more into genetic testing, genetic testing works through blood samples and machines that look for abnormalities in someone’s genes (Genetic Testing).
Which then can tell someone after a few weeks if they have inherited faulty genes (Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer: How Accurate Are the Results?). Mandated testing is a scam. It is trying to use an individual’s genetic information for the benefit of those who impose the tests, without regard to what it may do to others. Therefore, it should be stopped. As far as what we know about the tests, they are not certain, they are likely to be abused by insurance companies and businesses, and it will likely cause unnecessary psychological damage to the people forced to take such
tests.
Let’s start off with the accuracy of the tests. While it is true that the tests will tell if he or she has the faulty genes that are linked to breast cancer, even then, these tests do not actually tell them of their chances of getting breast cancer (Breast Cancer Facts :: The National Breast Cancer Foundation.). Instead, the doctors involved evaluate the test alongside different subjects. Once someone has sought out consultation, the tests are evaluated alongside family histories, current lifestyle, and personal history to determine the chances of that person getting breast cancer (BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing). However, these evaluations are not entirely accurate, nor do they tell people how serious their cancer may be if they do get it (Breast Cancer Facts :: The National Breast Cancer Foundation). This is stated by expert Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder of Breast Cancer.org, "Simply having a proven gene abnormality does not necessarily mean that a woman will develop breast cancer, or that her cancer will be any worse than cancer that does not stem from an inherited genetic flaw" (Breast Cancer Facts :: The National Breast Cancer Foundation). And finally, even if someone does perform the tests, not only are the tests not certain, but around 1/10 of the people who take the test end up with an “ambiguous, or uncertain result” (BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing). Which in short means that the tests can not completely ascertain whether or not someone’s genes will cause them to be at a higher risk of breast cancer, because the genes they discovered or tested for came out inconclusive.
Now, let’s think about why insurance companies would want mandated testing to occur. While it is true that genetic discrimination is made illegal by the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)” (Genetic Information Discrimination). This would not stop insurance companies from trying to reason out higher insurance rates with a higher risk of using insurance, as it is logical to think that way. Regardless, insurance companies are known for their scams and manipulation of information for money. For example, insurance companies since the Affordable Healthcare Act have been charging smokers around 50% more than nonsmokers in insurance premiums (Insurance Premium Surcharges for Smokers May Jeopardize Access to Coverage). At first this seems reasonable, however there is no guarantee that smokers will have more health problems than non smokers. Instead, it is based on probabilities. Therefore, using that same logic, who’s not to say that insurance companies won’t do the same with genetic information? All it would take is one decree from congress and all the information from someone’s mandated genetic tests would be used to raise his/her rates, based on things that he/she can’t change.
Now, let’s look at the reliability, legality, and truthfulness of insurance companies. Ever since the Affordable Healthcare Act, birth control medicines, “be it pill, patch, shot, ring — are supposed to be covered by insurance companies without a co-pay or other charges” (Health Insurance Companies Are Illegally Charging for Birth Control). Regardless, insurance companies are using loopholes and almost blatantly going against the law to do the opposite. They do this by charging women through broad “categories” of birth control medicine, even though they all should be covered the Affordable Healthcare Act. These actions just go to show that insurance companies would have no quarrel with using loopholes, or just breaking the law to exploit genetic tests. In short, the insurance companies are neither truly reliable, completely legal, or even truthful about the way they operate.
Finally, the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA),” Isn’t as protective as it appears (Genetic Information Discrimination). In fact, the “TRICARE military health system, the Indian Health Service, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program”, aren’t included by this act at all (Genetic Information Discrimination). As well as, “long term care insurance, life insurance, or disability insurance”, Meaning that all of these programs, which are only health insurance programs, are technically allowed to do with genetic information as they wish. This obvious gap in the reliability of the GINA Act just proves the points previously stated, the insurance companies can and will use loopholes and technicalities in laws to their advantage. This also means that veterans, common people, Indians, people in long term care, federal employees, or the disabled, perhaps by genetic diseases, could be genetically discriminated against legally if mandated testing was allowed.
Controversely, people believe Mandated Genetic Tests should be performed because they would save lives. There are quite a few benefits to genetic testing as these opposing views may state. For example, better cancer prevention programs may arise from genetic testing, more information could be learned about cancer this way to ultimately help cancer research (Seeking Your Genetic Information: Pros and Cons). People would in general have a better chance at avoiding cancer if they knew their chances of getting cancer. Obviously, lives would be saved, and even the quality of life may be improved for some further down the line. For example, if genetic testing were performed, people would have access to information that would tell them whether or not they should prepare for breast cancer. Using that information they could fight it off before it even begins. And through the same process, scientists and doctors would have more subjects to research from. Maybe allowing them to finally figure out what causes cancer, which in turn could lead to an end to cancer all together.
The psychological issues however are extremely pertinent. The results, especially those forced upon someone, can be detrimental to their well being (BRCA Gene Test for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk). To elaborate, there are two ways to be harmed in this world. The first way is through physical means, and the second is through psychological means. For example, people who receive positive results may begin to fear their future, and become brutally stressed by the entirety of the implications that come with breast cancer. They then will likely begin to get “Feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness or depression” (BRCA Gene Test for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk). People could also begin to worry about “possible insurance discrimination”, which could only those feelings worse. Which truthfully would be a founded fear, since discrimination by insurance companies is an actual possibility, as previously explained. Now, imagine if family members discovered they inherited this gene, or had a possibility of inheriting the gene, this could cause massive strain throughout families. The worry in that families could seep out, and show itself in surprising and often brutally harsh ways. Which in turn would create even more feelings of anxiety, anger, and depression.
That isn’t even to mention the unimaginable stress one would have to go through when facing “preventive measures that have long-term consequences” (BRCA Gene Test for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk). Which now create new “feelings of "inevitability" that you'll get cancer” (BRCA Gene Test for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk). However, this information hasn’t covered the psychological influence of an “ambiguous or uncertain BRCA1 or BRCA2 test result” (BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing). In short, an ambiguous or uncertain result is when you have “a genetic variant of uncertain significance” (BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing). Therefore, feelings of uncertainty can arise with ease, as that person may never get to know if cancer is going to take his/her life. What’s worse is “Survivor's Guilt”, knowing that that person’s family has the gene for breast cancer. But even then, that they were unaffected by a gene which may have wreaked havoc upon their family in the years past.
So then, is it really worth being forced to have this information? Even if insurance companies would have access to said information? No, it is not worth it, mandated genetic tests for breast cancer should not be performed. The reasoning behind it is more or less simple. Genetic tests for breast cancer are firstly, not entirely accurate, nor do they tell a person if and when they will get breast cancer, just the possibility they have of getting breast cancer. Secondly, the primary reason insurance companies would want these tests mandated in the first place is to use the information for their benefit. Which is not a new thing, insurance companies use information like “if people smoke” to create high insurance premiums repeatedly. Most importantly, the psychological impact of this information is highly detrimental to people who feel “forced” into knowing their results. It alone causes more problems than the tests may ever fix. Therefore, this information should only be pursued upon a person’s free will and choice, and shouldn't be forced upon them. Especially not when the people forcing the information, the insurance companies, would likely abuse that information for their own personal gain.