EASY WAY #4
Know About Mammograms
Mammograms effectively detect only 15% of all breast cancer
Although mammograms are considered the first line of defense in breast cancer prevention, studies have shown that mammograms detect only 15% of breast cancer incidence. In fact, mammograms can actually cause breast cancer by aggressively treating cancers that may go away on their own while missing deadly cancers.
It is important to realize that mammograms do not prevent breast cancer; they merely detect non invasive, non cancerous or stage zero abnormal cells called DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). Sometimes screening mammograms can also detect larger invasive tumors that might also have been found during a clinical exam or when you or your partner are massaging or feeling your breasts.
Although for many years, screening mammograms have been promoted as a safe and important procedure, recent and not- so -recent clinical studies indicate that the effectiveness of screening mammography is inconclusive at best. For example, one recent study indicated that an annual screening mammogram is not as helpful as having a screening mammogram every four to six years, since many small tumors found by annual mammography may go away on their own.
More recent studies also show that most women diagnosed with estrogen-negative breast cancers find these fast -growing tumors themselves, either with their partners, during breast massage, or in the shower, rather than through screening mammograms.
Recent studies have also shown that mammograms can actually cause or increase the risk of developing invasive breast cancer, especially in younger women who were born with the mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. (These BRCA genes repair radiation damage in the body; when mutated they are unable to repair such damage, hence increasing a carrier’s risk of developing breast cancer.)
Finally, it is important to realize that mammography is a multi-billion a year industry in the United States. Mammography screening clinics are one of the leading sources of revenue for most community and teaching hospitals and free-standing mammography or "breast health" services are often highly profitable enterprises for medical doctors and others who own or run these private enterprises. Although screening mammography may be an appropriate diagnostic procedure for some women, many medical centers also view mammography screening as one of their best cash cows. The recent mammography guidelines issued in 2009 by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, mean that screening mammography centers may now see an annual 50% to 60% decrease in their customer/patient base and in their revenues.
Alternatives to Mammograms
Thermography
Thermography is a safe and effective means to help in the diagnosis of breast cancer because it traces heat patterns in your breasts. Some women use thermography as an alternative to screening mammograms and others use thermography in conjunction with a screening or diagnostic mammogram. For more information on this non invasive procedure or to find a clinically trained thermologist, visit the American College of Clinical Thermology’s website: www.thermologyonline.org. Or, read this article on How Thermography can save your life
Breast Self-Exams
Self-Exams are out and breast massage is in! The research shows that women find most breast cancer themselves. So Know Breast Cancer recommends that women get to know their breasts better than anyone else. But who likes to examine themselves? Nobody; so nobody seems to do breast self exams. So forget about the idea of doing a self exam and start thinking about giving yourself a healthy breast massage to learn about possible changes in your breast tissue. Breast massage also increases the healthy flow of lymph fluids throughout your breast tissue. Ummmm.
Vitamin D Therapy
No more mammograms — Just have a blood test to check your vitamin D level! It now appears that sufficient levels of Vitamin D can literally stops breast cancer before it starts at the cellular level, if you are able to maintain 40- 60 ng/ml in your blood serum level. Watch this video about why screening mammograms may soon become history. (5 min)
Mammograms & Other Breast Screening Resources
Mammogram Articles
October 20, 2009, New York Times — Cancer Society, in Shift, Has Concerns on Screenings — This article questions the effectiveness of screening for breast and prostrate cancer because of the risk of overtreating many small cancers while missing many cancers that are deadly.
March 30, 2009, New York Times — Benefits of mammogram under debate in Britain — The conventional wisdom about breast cancer screening is coming under scrutiny in Britain.
January 27, 2009, BMJ (British Medical Journal) — Breast Screening:The facts—or Maybe Not — In an analysis of the facts women received from their doctors about the hazards of mammograms, doctors found that women are still not getting correct information about the harms of screening.
November 24, 2008, New York Times — Study suggests some cancers may go away — According to the results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2008, screening mammograms every six years is safer that having yearly mammograms.
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