I am not a scientist or a doctor or connected to the health care industry in any way…but I’d like to think I have a little common sense.

And my common sense has me questioning the new guidelines released this week for mammograms.

I understand the new guidelines are based on scientific evidence but what about anecdotal evidence?

Here are just two examples in my own life.

My sister’s dear friend Kathyrn from Austin, Texas was diagnosed this year with breast cancer after a self-breast exam.  She is 33 years old.

My former colleague and friend at KIRO-TV, Michelle Millman, discovered a lump earlier this year during a self-breast exam.  She is 42 years old.

If both of these women followed the new guidelines they would not have had mammograms or even conducted self-breast exams.

Thankfully these women detected the cancer early and they have a good chance of beating it and becoming breast cancer survivors.

Please watch this video of Michelle Millman reacting to the new guidelines.  We can all learn from her insight and grace.